Individual assessment is like an intellectual quiz show. All eyes will be on you. Many group assessment methods, such as a case-study interview or a questionnaire, can be adapted for the one-person interview. There are specific formats as well. Let's say you may have to make a presentation. The recruiter's goal is to see how you approach the task, plan, and process large volumes of data.
A series of in-depth interviews is another popular method of individual assessments. You may have to take part in several successive dialogues: with the recruiter, the hiring manager of your potential team, and a top manager. This is the way the employer checks your self-presentation skills and core competencies. By the way, the company may be interested not only in your professional expertise but also in your personal achievements. To come prepared, think of the hobbies you can talk about.
On top of that, you may be asked to take a test or to fill in a questionnaire. Testing allows the employer to judge your motivation, discover your dominant personality traits, your potential team behaviour, and to assess your IQ. There will be no way to cheat off another test and there may be no correct answer at all. It's important to answer honestly and thoughtfully.
A series of in-depth interviews is another popular method of individual assessments. You may have to take part in several successive dialogues: with the recruiter, the hiring manager of your potential team, and a top manager. This is the way the employer checks your self-presentation skills and core competencies. By the way, the company may be interested not only in your professional expertise but also in your personal achievements. To come prepared, think of the hobbies you can talk about.
On top of that, you may be asked to take a test or to fill in a questionnaire. Testing allows the employer to judge your motivation, discover your dominant personality traits, your potential team behaviour, and to assess your IQ. There will be no way to cheat off another test and there may be no correct answer at all. It's important to answer honestly and thoughtfully.
Checklist to prepare for an assessment
Research the company. Recruiters look carefully at whether your personal qualities match the brand values and mission. Find out the key features of the corporate culture beforehand.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Show your interest and ask the recruiter in advance:
● How long will the assessment take and what language it will be carried out in?
● What is the format of this round? What should you prepare for specifically , what are the tasks, are there any restrictions (for instance, no calculators or no Internet).
● What are the criteria for assessing the applicants? What competencies does the company value most?
● How many other applicants will there be and how many of them usually pass to the next round?
● Who will assess you: recruiters, line managers, department team leaders, or top managers?
Delve into the industry. See what critical studies have been published within the last month or which trends are discussed by the researchers of artificial intelligence. Take your time to keep up-to-date with the latest news.
Imagine what can go wrong. At the assessment, you may be asked tough questions or intentionally presented with difficult choices. In order to not fumble at the actual assessment, think of some awkward questions in advance and answer them.
Learn to control your emotions. There will be enough irritants at the assessment: the response time is limited, your teammates may be imperfect, the overall atmosphere may seem tense. Do not interrupt others in anger, even if you are certain of how to actually perform the task. Bear in mind that the assessors are watching, and they value self-control and your ability to cope with pressure and mitigate conflict.
Boost your self-presentation skills. Think ahead of what you will say if asked to present yourself. Don't memorize your speech by heart, or it will look unnatural. Come up with a precise structure of your speech, collect a few examples confirming your words, and practice in front of the mirror.
Focus on the positive. Assessment is not an exam, no one wants you to fail. On the contrary, the company wants you to open up. Extra stress will make you tense and nervous — it won't do you any good, as you will have difficulty staying focused.
Get some qualitysleep the night before. Your competencies will be assessed, so there is no sense in reading books on Problem Solving all night to shape yourself into a leader. No one can foster skills overnight, so it would be far more productive to have a good night's sleep and be energetic at this round.
Be ready for feedback. Better yet, ask the interviewer for it. See their comments as an opportunity to learn about your strengths and weaknesses from an unbiased expert.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Show your interest and ask the recruiter in advance:
● How long will the assessment take and what language it will be carried out in?
● What is the format of this round? What should you prepare for specifically , what are the tasks, are there any restrictions (for instance, no calculators or no Internet).
● What are the criteria for assessing the applicants? What competencies does the company value most?
● How many other applicants will there be and how many of them usually pass to the next round?
● Who will assess you: recruiters, line managers, department team leaders, or top managers?
Delve into the industry. See what critical studies have been published within the last month or which trends are discussed by the researchers of artificial intelligence. Take your time to keep up-to-date with the latest news.
Imagine what can go wrong. At the assessment, you may be asked tough questions or intentionally presented with difficult choices. In order to not fumble at the actual assessment, think of some awkward questions in advance and answer them.
Learn to control your emotions. There will be enough irritants at the assessment: the response time is limited, your teammates may be imperfect, the overall atmosphere may seem tense. Do not interrupt others in anger, even if you are certain of how to actually perform the task. Bear in mind that the assessors are watching, and they value self-control and your ability to cope with pressure and mitigate conflict.
Boost your self-presentation skills. Think ahead of what you will say if asked to present yourself. Don't memorize your speech by heart, or it will look unnatural. Come up with a precise structure of your speech, collect a few examples confirming your words, and practice in front of the mirror.
Focus on the positive. Assessment is not an exam, no one wants you to fail. On the contrary, the company wants you to open up. Extra stress will make you tense and nervous — it won't do you any good, as you will have difficulty staying focused.
Get some qualitysleep the night before. Your competencies will be assessed, so there is no sense in reading books on Problem Solving all night to shape yourself into a leader. No one can foster skills overnight, so it would be far more productive to have a good night's sleep and be energetic at this round.
Be ready for feedback. Better yet, ask the interviewer for it. See their comments as an opportunity to learn about your strengths and weaknesses from an unbiased expert.