As far as i know, candidates are normally given detailed information about assessment centre in advance. I'm not talking about receiving a general agenda (you will have it as well) but about "what sort of things to expect". If the information is not forthcoming, ring up and ask.

Well, I'd like to answer to one precise question: What happens at the assessment centres? I noticed you're quite scared about that. The right answer is that you can expect a number of things to happen: ability-type psychometric tests, personality questionnaire, management test, team works, interviews, social events ecc.

All these things togheter? I don't think so. By the way, if you want to know what is going to happen at your next assessment centre, just ask questions to the HR of the company. Don't worry and feel free to ask. They're certainly going to give you all the information you need, and it is a good way to show your interest for the job.

Well, of course not every job posts you find requires an assessment center. The companies usually organize assessment centers for entry level buth prestigious jobs.

Most investment banking vacancies and graduate programs have an assessment center as a step in the recruitment process. If you check out our international graduate program posting, you can be sure that those wil have an AC in the way to achieve selection.

Still, not every company does Assessment Center! right? I have done many job applications, and have met no firm who organized an assesment center for the valuation!

Diana

That is the most important part of a recruitment process. Just think about it, at AC (assessmente center) gives the best possible idea of how someone can work and about his/her abilities. If you are not good at groupworks, well, then you should avoid ACs!

Jose

Is the assessment center important?
I am not too good at groupworks, so it would not help me too much :(

I did once an assessment center for CEMS.

It was one hour simulation, we were in a group of 6 candidates. We had an invented project of having to discuss how we would be organizing an event. We had an observer for each of us, and they were simply wathcing how you behavied during the one hour, as taking your role, being active, creative, useful for the group, for the project...
So to put it this way, it is a simply role play in which the recruiters assess your skills!

but no clue how you could prepare for it...

JJ