Blogs: Richard's job log: 13

Richard currently works in a Birmingham law firm, after completing a contemporary history degree. He’s thinking about a paralegal career, but also has media ambitions.

I had previously been quite cynical about the Royal Wedding, but I will openly admit to watching the whole ceremony and having a smashing time. Two days before the big day, I, like many others, hopped on a coach down to sunny old London town with high hopes and dreams. However, I was not going to pass on my best to Willie Wales and his blushing bride. Instead I ventured to the capital to take part in a Graduate Assessment Day for a potential sales role.

It was the second such assessment day that I have attended since graduating and I look back on neither experience favourably. The first was a harrowing ordeal which resulted in my being told that I wasn’t cut out for a job as a recruitment consultant. I could’ve told them that myself. I had no idea what to expect, gave it my best shot and was rewarded with a resounding and deserved ‘NO!’ Life moves on.

Second time around, I had a much better idea of what would go on. There would be individual presentations, group tasks and psychometric tests; all of which are designed to assess your personality and suitability to a role. Just imagine ‘The Apprentice’ but with less Alan Sugar.

To be perfectly honest the whole experience can be quite daunting but it is a necessary evil if you want one of those much sought after graduate jobs. Prospective employers need to see how you would fit in with their culture and not how your CV would. They want you to be yourself and the assessment day is designed to see how you react to different stimuli.

At this juncture I would like to point out (if you hadn’t already guessed) that I wasn’t successful, indeed, less than half of the 40 odd graduates that attended progressed on the day and while it is demoralising to be rejected so publicly, it is good experience and rejection, sadly, is a huge part of working life.

These assessment days aren’t going away anytime soon we all need to get used to them. Hopefully if you are reading this you will have one yourself soon, so in that spirit please allow me to offer three key pointers.

1. You will be asked something wacky at the beginning of the day. Be it your star sign, greatest achievement or the person you admire the most.They will ask you something along those lines. Be prepared for wackiness and try to be original.
2. Be confident and forthcoming, especially in the group tasks. They want people to be bold and take charge.
3. If you have to do a presentation, take cue cards. Do not try and remember it all off the top of your head. This will not go well. Trust me.

So there you go, forewarned is forearmed and all that, and if you don’t get the job you could always marry a prince. I think the ginger one is still available.