Colloquio Assessment

Assessment Centres and Interviews

4 tips for how to stand out during an Assessment Centre or interview

1 - Put yourself ‘out there’

An Assessment Centre (AC) is a methodology to assess candidates' behaviour in fictitious but realistic situational tests (group or individual).

In group tests, carve out your own space by putting forward your ideas and using your relational skills. Take a few minutes to better understand the goal of the test. Consider the context of your group and task before making contributions, expressing your thoughts without imposing your opinion on others.

The tests are designed to assess transversal skills. Technical skills are not assessed at this stage; these are assessed during your technical interview.

Marina Trappa – Recruiter Eni

The candidate who emerges the most, is the one who manages to coordinate the group, listening to the opinions and proposals of all.

Marina Trappa – Recruiter Eni

2 - Show self-awareness about your strengths and areas for improvement

During the AC, at some points you may struggle. You may not fully achieve the goal, or you might forget to propose something you want to explore. Don't worry, there is no such thing as the perfect candidate!

During the one-to-one interview with the recruiter you have the opportunity to reflect on the challenges you faced during the AC. Reflect not only on your successes but also on the aspects that did not go as well. Show you have learned from the experience; self-awareness is a widely valued characteristic in the workplace.

Being transparent in your interview allows your interviewer to make decisions based on your true self. Highlighting your areas of improvement in the interview also means your new employer is aware from the start and can help you develop.

Ameria Kyaligamba – Global Resourcing, Eni

3 - During the interview, tell us more about who you are

The aptitude interview with the recruiter is your opportunity to better explain your education, training and professional path, plus your interests, motivations and aspirations.
Before the interview, take time to review your CV and key experiences that are worth recounting to explain what you have learned.

The STAR technique is useful:

  • Situation: Describe the context of your example.
  • Task: Explain the project or initiative and your role in it.
  • Action: Detail the specific actions you contributed to the task.
  • Result: Illustrate the impact of your example, including specific statistics if relevant.