A few months ago, I was invited to Spain to interview for the job of my life. I say invited, I had to pay my own way and put myself up and sort everything out so I was more summoned than invited.
Sadly, despite my enthusiasm and certainty that the job was perfect for me, I was not successful – I think largely because I had no idea what these assessment centres were like.
Although there’s plenty of advice out there, what I wish I could have prepared for was the psychology of it.
Here are my tips for managing the draining psychology of an assessment centre or group interview.
Pre-interview: keep yourself to yourself
I opted to share a taxi with other applicants from Bilbao to Logrono – about a 90 minute drive. I was so impressed and intimidated by the people I met that I went further and further into myself and became increasingly nervous. This was only made worse by the ice breaker and tapas evening that was organised for us. People were playing mind games; buddying up to people and then ‘reassuring them’ that they shouldn’t be nervous – even when they’d shown no sign of being nervous. People are tricky when they really want something.
It would have been much better to spend the run up to the assessment centre alone, psyching myself up and reminding myself of my own strengths rather than hearing about others’.
Don’t worry about other people’s performances
At the beginning of the assessment day, we were asked to introduce ourselves and ask any questions we had. I went last and had watched people do wonderfully and others completely bomb. I was so busy listening to them I forgot to consider what I would say. Needless to say, I bombed.
It’s important to remember that you can’t affect other people’s performances so just forget them and focus on making your own the best it can be.
The group project: be yourself
The group project doesn’t require much thought or planning – it’s much better to just get stuck in and be yourself. Sadly, if you’re timid or overbearing by nature that will become evident. However, hopefully you’re a happy medium and will be a useful – integral, even – part of the team. 
Talk to the recruiters at lunch
Lunch is where I let myself down the most. I chatted to the chief winemaker for a long time about white rioja, but she was not involved in the recruitment process. I should have, like the others, pounced on those assessing us and asked all sorts of questions about their careers and the company etc.
I watched a beautiful French girl quiz the head of the graduate programme about all sorts of things. She had some questions planned, for sure. Make sure you have some ideas of questions.
Move on from your mistakes in a matter of seconds
At the moments where I blundered, I allowed myself to fret over it. What I should have done was forget it and throw myself into the next bit.
Stay alert
Although you will get tired and it is a draining day, you just have to thrive off the adrenaline.
Stay hydrated, eat well and get a good night’s sleep the night before. You might convince yourself that you’re too nervous to eat, but you will need the energy. Just do it.
Plaster a smile on your face
A smile makes you behave more positively and it makes you come across more positively. Even if you’re dying inside, just smile.
Don’t give up
Even if you think you’ve completely bombed and failed – keep at it as though you still think you’ll get the job. I became negative as soon as I thought others were better for the job than me. The reality is that you have no idea what the company is really looking for and it could actually be you.
