If you have been invited to attend an Assessment Centre then please take a moment to recognise what a significant achievement this is.

In banking and finance, the number of applicants selected to attend an Assessment Centre is significantly smaller compared to the number who have applied which means that your application has stood out in a highly competitive process.

Preparation

Prior to attending an Assessment Centre the company will provide you with the information you will need in order to help you to prepare. Whilst most of the information will be given to you on the day, it is perfectly acceptable for you to contact them if you have any questions in advance.

We recommend that you have thoroughly researched the company and gained a good understanding of the role for which you have applied. This entails knowing what the company"s values and behaviours are and the skills you will need to be successful in the role. You will be assessed against your ability to demonstrate these skills as part of the exercise.

Performance

Ultimately, the group exercise is about how you interact and work with others and therefore it is primarily assessing how you collaborate, influence, build relationships and communicate. Contrary to popular belief, the group exercise is one of the few assessments where achieving the right answer isn"t the main criteria that you"re being assessed against. Instead, it is principally about how you and your group work together to achieve your answer. It is important to strike the right balance between demonstrating your own knowledge and providing opportunities for other members of your group to contribute to the discussion.

Top Tip

During the group exercise the most common role we see students vie to be is that of "time keeper". Rather than just keeping the time add value to your group by suggesting how to use the time that you"ve been given.

Feedback

Whether or not you are successful at an Assessment Centre it is important that you obtain feedback on your performance so that you can continue to develop your skills.

For information on Barclays Graduate and Internship opportunities please visit: www.barclays.com/joinus