Six steps for success in assessment centres
The road to getting a job can often be long and hard: after sending off an application and conducting a phone interview, you may be invited to attend another interview at an assessment centre in lieu of an interview.
With more employers recognising that assessment centres can have a positive impact on diversity, this part of the job selection process is becoming an increasingly popular way for top employers to find their ideal employee. Focussing on everything from interviews to teamwork exercises, these centres are designed to put you through additional screening to determine whether you are the right fit for the role.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to prepare for them in advance.
Know the company inside out
Nothing says dedication like job candidates who know exactly what is expected of them and how they fit into the company’s work ethos and culture. Most hiring managers say that appearing disinterested in a role is the most important thing not to do in an interview, it pays to be engaged.
Taking the time to research your prospective employer in-depth is one of the top tips to ace an interview. Find out how they work, whether they have any success stories, and the names of the people that you will be speaking to, or reporting to. You should also know your job description and if you want to make a good impression during the interview, you should constantly be referring back to it. Many assessors will also have a list of qualities or attributes that they will be looking for in their candidates; try to ask for a copy so you know what they’re looking for.
Be aptitude-test ready
A large part of any assessment centre involves testing the skills you say you have on your CV to determine whether you’ll be able to keep up with the demands of the role. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to prepare for any aptitude tests you’re going to face, whether numerical, logical or verbal. There are lots of test papers online for you to practice and if you want to stand out, knowing what you’re dealing with is a must.
Practise your verbal skills
Whether in an interview or a presentation, you’ll be required to use verbal skills. Practising is key: come up with questions that you’ll likely be asked, make sure that you have your own answers ready and practise your interview techniques. It’s vital that you don’t appear flustered or stressed when you’re answering questions or speaking to the interviewers. Make sure you speak slowly, confidently and don’t forget to make eye contact.
Make a good first impression
The first test you’ll face in the assessment centre is making a good impression at the start of the day: invariably, this will shape your prospective employer’s view of you as a candidate. There are lots of dos and don'ts when it comes to interviews and assessments centres, like wearing appropriate clothing. In fact, 71% of employers admit they'd discount a candidate who didn't understand the dress code.
Other ways to make sure you make a good impression from the minute you walk in the door include bringing everything with you that you need, such as identification, and checking whether you’re required to complete any written tasks before going. It’s also a good idea to take an updated version of your CV with you, which should be tailored to the role you are interviewing for.
Be employable
You need to show your assessors that you are somebody worth employing. The most important elements they are looking for is somebody who is flexible, responsible and able to think quickly on their feet. It is also worth remembering basic interview behaviour: be polite, curious and enthusiastic. If appropriate, ask questions; show that you are engaged with the role and with the task at hand.
Be a good team player
Do you work well with others? One of the tests that you’ll undoubtedly face in the assessment centre is seeing how well you interact with other people. Whether through group exercise or social breaks, make sure you stand out as a valuable team member: support other people, don’t be afraid to speak up and contribute to discussions in a meaningful way. If you do have some criticism, try to make it constructive rather than negative: one of the things assessors will be looking for is how other people respond to you, and how well you can influence and persuade them.
Is it time for your next career move?
At IQVIA, we often use assessment centres to recruit the best candidates for the role. Assessment centres are places where you will be tested as a candidate in multiple ways, from your social to your verbal reasoning skills. If you want to impress an employer, the most important thing that you can do is be prepared so you know in advance what to do and say to strike the right note with your assessors- and hopefully land your ideal job as a result.
Now you know exactly what you need to do to impress in your next assessment centre, all that's left to do is start the job search. Browse our latest medical sales representative roles or search our other job categories to find the role that is right for you.
Find out more about life at IQVIA
Did you know IQVIA has
86,000+ employees
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Did you know IQVIA cares about
Health and Wellbeing
for all its employees
Did you know IQVIA has
Excellent work-life balance
and is committed to this kind of culture
Did you know IQVIA has
1,900+ epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
56+ petabytes of unique data
including 1.2B+ non-identified patient records
Did you know IQVIA has
Countless development opportunities
for personal and professional growth
Did you know IQVIA has
4,600 data scientists
including statisticians and analytics developers
Did you know IQVIA has
Excellent work-life balance
and is committed to this kind of culture
Did you know IQVIA has
86,000+ employees
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Did you know IQVIA has
4,600 data scientists
including statisticians and analytics developers
Did you know IQVIA has
1,900+ epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
Countless development opportunities
for personal and professional growth
Did you know IQVIA cares about
Health and Wellbeing
for all its employees
Did you know IQVIA has
56+ petabytes of unique data
including 1.2B+ non-identified patient records
Related jobs
Salary:
Location:
San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
San Francisco
San Diego
Los Angeles
Description
IQVIA in partnership with ITF Therapeutics are excited to announce that we are seeking candidates with rare disease experience for the role of Neuromuscular Regional Sales Director.Requirements:Four-y
Reference
R1421360
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Jackson
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jackson
Description
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with a leading ortho company, and at this time we are looking for Associate Sales Consultants to join our team of field employee’s.Associate Sales Con
Reference
R1414815
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Larry ShoupAuthor
Larry ShoupSalary:
Location:
Torino
Job Type
Contractor/Consultant
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Torino
Description
Il nostro cliente, realtà farmaceutica in forte espansione e specializzata nel settore della nutraceutica ci ha incaricati di ricercare un Informatore Medico Scientifico, area di lavoro in Piemonte -
Reference
R1366349
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Padova
Job Type
Contractor/Consultant
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Padova
Description
Il nostro cliente, realtà farmaceutica in forte espansione e specializzata nel settore della nutraceutica ci ha incaricati di ricercare un Informatore Medico Scientifico, area di lavoro in Emilia Roma
Reference
R1366352
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Erfurt
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Erfurt
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. Bei IQVIA Contract Sales & Medical Solutions unterstützen Sie unsere Ku
Reference
R1344285
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Michelle PflanzAuthor
Michelle PflanzSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebag
Reference
R1374944
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Semarang, Central Jawa)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebagai
Reference
R1379173
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Detroit
Job Type
POI without Job
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Detroit
Description
Pharmacy Support Call Center Representative Contract Remote Role – Location (Open to Remote US)As the only global provider of commercial solutions, IQVIA understands what it takes to deliver nationall
Reference
R1378658
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Janice JonesAuthor
Janice JonesSalary:
Location:
Nashville
Job Type
POI without Job
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Nashville
Description
Pharmacy Support Call Center Representative Contract Remote Role – Location (Open to Remote US)As the only global provider of commercial solutions, IQVIA understands what it takes to deliver nationall
Reference
R1377979
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Janice JonesAuthor
Janice JonesSalary:
Location:
Devon, Somerset
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Devon
Somerset
Description
IQVIA are currently recruiting for a Clinical Specialist in Devon and Somerset to join the team! You will be dedicated to one of the world’s most highly respected healthcare companies within their spe
Reference
R1419257
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Wendy SubhaniAuthor
Wendy SubhaniIQVIA has been behind my development to become a MSL. The contracts that I have worked on have allowed me to push clinical projects with a recent opportunity to manage a pilot scheme integrating e-detailing into an established field based team. The result was an increase in sales.
Once again I cannot thank you enough for not only approaching me with this opportunity but also for all the support you’ve given me along the way!
A quick note to say thank you for your time this morning discussing my future career options. As you know I was feeling very conflicted about the right decision. Discussing the role with you gave me chance to clarify what is important to me.
Just following on from the amazing news I got yesterday I wanted to say a really special thank you for all the help and support you have provided throughout the entire recruitment process.
Since joining IQVIA I have had unrivalled support and development from my manager to enable me to aspire to move into secondary care. I feel like my career is strongly supported by my manager in order to maximise my potential.
Since joining IQVIA I have had unrivalled support and development from my manager to enable me to aspire to move into secondary care. I feel like my career is strongly supported by my manager in order to maximise my potential.
IQVIA Related insights
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
ArticlePublished
30/04/2024
Summary
Whether you work remotely, with a hybrid model, or are a careerist who can’t help but mentally take your work home with you when you leave the office, it’s undeniable that the lines between work and
Teaser
Medical Sales & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
19/03/2024
Summary
Are you wondering if medical sales is a good career? All over the world, the medical and pharmaceutical sectors are booming, and nowhere more so than in the UK. With a thriving ecosystem of research
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
ArticlePublished
05/02/2024
Summary
Lucy Manning sits in our clinical trials team, but that’s not where her career started at IQVIA. It all began at the back end of 2022 when Lucy took on a fixed-term contract as a Project Support Coo
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
02/02/2024
Summary
Does the idea of being a medical sales rep excite you? This crucial position lets you make connections with companies and practitioners in the medical field. It’s also a growing and dynamic industry.
Content Type
ArticlePublished
04/01/2024
Summary
Are you ready to step into a career that's both rewarding and accessible? Becoming a phlebotomist could be your ticket into the thriving world of healthcare. It's not just about drawing blood; it's ab
Teaser
MedicalContent Type
ArticlePublished
20/11/2023
Summary
In the tapestry of healthcare, where expertise meets innovation, individuals like Marissa, a Senior Nurse Advisor at IQVIA, play a pivotal role. Marissa has not only learned from challenges but has e
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
13/11/2023
Summary
A guide to excelling in Key Account Manager jobs in healthcare In the dynamic landscape of the healthcare industry, the role of a Key Account Manager (KAM) is pivotal. Experienced account managers con
Teaser
Medical Affairs & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
10/11/2023
Summary
The role of medical science liaisons has never been more pivotal. Why? As catalysts for change and advocates of cutting-edge advancements, these professionals play a crucial role in fostering collab
Teaser
Medical Sales & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
25/10/2023
Summary
In an industry where cutting-edge innovations and life-changing treatments are introduced every day, the role of ethics in medical device sales is critical. Bridging the gap between groundbreaking m
Teaser
Clinical OperationsContent Type
ArticlePublished
06/10/2023
Summary
Need some guidance on how to get a job in clinical research?Clinical research is a dynamic and rewarding field that transcends borders, offering professionals worldwide the chance to contribute to m
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
06/10/2023
Summary
In the dynamic and competitive world of medical sales, the path to success is not just about knowing your products or having an impressive CV. Instead, amongst key skills, it's often the abili
Content Type
ArticlePublished
31/08/2023
Summary
Are you one of the 788,638 registered general nurses in the UK? Are you looking for a new challenge, with opportunities to grow and make a real impact in the world of healthcare? A unique and transf
Recently viewed jobs