coming to see us

Here's a video made by the SSC that shows what it's like to visit Cerno
(the Cerno part of the process is shown 3 minutes into the video).

If you are about to attend an assessment centre, this information is for you. It describes what to expect when you attend one of our assessment centres, and some answers to frequently asked questions.

What to expect at a Cerno Assessment Centre
The content of the Assessment Centre will vary depending on the organisation that asked you to attend the centre and the purpose of your assessment. Assessment Centres are designed to provide you with the best possible opportunity to demonstrate your strengths and skills. As well as being a valuable learning experience in itself, you will receive detailed feedback on how your performance at the centre compares with others in similar roles. Previous participants have found the feedback extremely useful in clarifying their strengths and development needs.

Pre-assessment centre materials
You may be asked to complete several questionnaires before attending an assessment centre (for example, self assessments, personality inventories, career preference inventories, application forms, or 360 feedback surveys). You can expect to spend around two hours completing this preparatory work. Your responses will help us understand your work style preferences and motivation, and help us tailor the assessment process to fully explore your interests.

Please have these questionnaires completed a week before you attend the assessment centre.

Plan to be on time for your assessment centre
You will be given a specific time to arrive for the assessment centre. Please ensure you arrive at Cerno at the designated time. Our assessment timetables need to run like clockwork as we often have three to four people attending each assessment day, participating in a wide range of exercises.

When you arrive, our Assessment Centre Co-ordinator will show you to your ‘home room’ (i.e. the room allocated to you for the time you are with us). You will be given a timetable that describes the assessment exercises you will be involved in and how long each assessment exercise will take. The Co-ordinator will explain our facilities to you, when you can expect tea, coffee, lunch, etc., and how to contact the Co- ordinator during the centre.

Where necessary, we work hard to protect your confidentiality. Our Co-ordinator will talk to you about your specific needs.

During the Centre you will take part in different exercises
The assessment centre can involve a number of exercises, and will vary depending on the purpose of your assessment. Some of the most common exercises are:

Interview: Two or more people may interview you. During the interview, they will ask you about your interests, experiences, and how you have demonstrated different skills. If you have completed an application form or self-assessment, you will also be asked to expand on some of the information you have provided.
Meeting simulation or role-play: You may take part in a meeting with a work colleague played by a trained actor (for example, the actor may play a peer, staff, manager, customer or stakeholder). You will be given time to prepare for the meeting and will be given information to assist you with your preparation (i.e. information describing the context in which the meeting takes place, the scenario and what you have been asked to achieve).
Presentation Simulation: You may be asked to present on a topic to a small group playing a range of roles (e.g. staff, a project or management team, community representatives, etc). You will be given information to help you prepare, either before attending the assessment centre or directly before the simulation.
Case Study/Analysis Exercise: You may be asked to analyse information provided and make a decision resolving a business or organisational problem. You will receive information and be asked to present your views in writing or as a presentation.
Problem Solving Tests: You may be asked to solve a number of different problems under timed conditions. They are designed to discover your approach to problem solving and how efficiently you are able to find solutions to verbal and numeric problems.

Remember that you will be given time to prepare for all your exercises. The Coordinator will help you understand what you have to do and the resources you have to help you.

There are often breaks between exercises so please feel free to bring some reading material or work to complete.

You will receive in-depth feedback on your performance
After the assessment centre you will be given verbal feedback, typically by telephone. The feedback will outline your key strengths as observed during the assessment centre and a range of development suggestions to help you improve your work performance in the future. You will also have an opportunity to clarify with the psychologist providing you with the feedback, any queries you may have about your performance at the assessment centre.

You may also receive a written report (depending on the organisation that asked you to attend the centre and the purpose of your assessment). These reports have been carefully designed so you can use them to enhance your skills.