Assessment Centre
- scotland career
Today, I attended the first of two assessment centres in May. This one was for the Scottish Government (SG) Graduate Development Programme, a 4-year programme with placements in different SG divisions, to build new leaders.
All I can say really is that it didn’t go terrible. I think I was at a huge advantage compared to the other kids fresh from uni, having worked for the government for a while. But who can tell whether the panels found in me what they were looking for? When asked for my motivation for applying for this post I said that I wanted to save the world. It’s my favourite question!
Should I get offered a post I’ll take it, as it is a rare opportunity to get a permanent position in the Scottish Government, and it would come with a sizable pay rise. However, it would mean leaving my current job which I’m not quite ready for - I’ve only just started, and it is so much fun!
If I don’t get the SG one, there are two other ways in:
One is the other assessment centre later this month. That one is for the UK Civil Service Statisticians’ Faststream, a similar programme but for statisticians’ posts only, and with placements all over the UK. This means it would be quite likely that I’d end up in London at some point… If I get through that I will have to go to another assessment centre, and the whole process might take a while.
The other way is the SG statistician’s board in summer, where my chances are pretty good, but the pay would be a bit less than in the other schemes. It would be a slower, more relaxed career path. If I got through this I could stay in my current post but likely on a higher grade (and salary).
So things are looking pretty good!
My preparation for the assessment centre followed my time-tested pattern for whenever I approach a job application deadline or a job interview. It is safe to say that I have never been overprepared for an interview in my life.
The six steps to success:
All I can say really is that it didn’t go terrible. I think I was at a huge advantage compared to the other kids fresh from uni, having worked for the government for a while. But who can tell whether the panels found in me what they were looking for? When asked for my motivation for applying for this post I said that I wanted to save the world. It’s my favourite question!
Should I get offered a post I’ll take it, as it is a rare opportunity to get a permanent position in the Scottish Government, and it would come with a sizable pay rise. However, it would mean leaving my current job which I’m not quite ready for - I’ve only just started, and it is so much fun!
If I don’t get the SG one, there are two other ways in:
One is the other assessment centre later this month. That one is for the UK Civil Service Statisticians’ Faststream, a similar programme but for statisticians’ posts only, and with placements all over the UK. This means it would be quite likely that I’d end up in London at some point… If I get through that I will have to go to another assessment centre, and the whole process might take a while.
The other way is the SG statistician’s board in summer, where my chances are pretty good, but the pay would be a bit less than in the other schemes. It would be a slower, more relaxed career path. If I got through this I could stay in my current post but likely on a higher grade (and salary).
So things are looking pretty good!
My preparation for the assessment centre followed my time-tested pattern for whenever I approach a job application deadline or a job interview. It is safe to say that I have never been overprepared for an interview in my life.
The six steps to success:
- Denial up until a week before the event
- Thinking about necessary action to take up until three days before the event
- Lethargy, lots of television and junk food, feeling guilty for two days
- Extreme domestic activity until the early evening before the event
- A short period of panicking
- Minimum, but meaningful preparation
You should give it a try! Or maybe wait and see how it worked out for me…
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