At any one time, one of my most asked queries is around assessment centre tips. You ask, I deliver!
Most law firm assessment centres follow a fairly standard format. From my experience, these are the tasks you can expect at an assessment centre, and some of my tips for acing each task!
The written task
This is likely to be very time pressured, so a good plan of attack is key!
You will likely be given a transactional case study containing a lot of material, and be asked to produce a memo for a colleague or the client.
My top tips for the written task are:
- Skim the material as quickly as you can, highlighting any pros in one colour and cons in another, so you can quickly draw comparisons.
- Once you’ve read the material, take a step back to understand the scenario: draw a structure chart or map the transaction in a way you find useful.
- Before you begin writing your memo, take 30 seconds to very quickly decide on a structure, with sub-headings addressing the key points.
- Write quickly but as accurately as you can. Any spelling mistakes or grammar issues could really let you down!
- Be sure to address every point you’ve been asked to, even if very briefly. If time is running out, just get something down.
- Beware of any accounts provided. It’s great if you can interpret these at a basic level, and (if there are accounts for multiple years) draw any comparisons over time; e.g. assessing the income statements to see whether profitability has increased/declined. But keep your analysis high level, unless you’re confident in this area. (On this point – have a calculator to hand!)
Important: If you would normally receive extra time/other adjustments when sitting exams, make sure Graduate Recruitment are aware of this in advance, so that they can accommodate these adjustments and ensure you’re assessed fairly throughout the assessment centre.
The presentation
You may be asked to present your findings on the written task to a partner. Or, you may be given a separate list of topics and asked to present on one of your choice.
In the prep time decide on a basic structure and begin your presentation by explaining this structure. Example: “Today I’m going to present my findings on why I’d recommend [target] for acquisition over [competitor]. I’ve structured my thinking into three categories: X, Y and Z.”
This gets you off on confident footing, and should calm your nerves, as you know how to start then the rest should flow naturally.
My top presenting tips:
- Don’t: Let your nerves get away with you by speaking too quickly or quietly. Don’t read from a script/your hands.
- Do: Breathe. Speak slowly and calmly, enunciating clearly. Make eye contact with the person you’re presenting to (looking straight into the camera if the AC is virtual). If the AC is in person and you need something to do with your hands: if you have use of a whiteboard etc. write down your basic structure, and gesture towards this. If you get flustered at any point you’ll also have this to look at to anchor you back in the room.
- If you drew up a structure chart as part of your written task, and the presentation is a continuation of this, use this. You can talk the partner through it if it’s useful, or if you lose your train of thought.
- If presenting is an area you struggle with, look up free presenting workshops on Eventbrite or Youtube, and get practising!
The group negotiation
Here the firm is assessing your teamwork skills, so how you position yourself is important.
- Make sure you don’t hog the floor, as this may come across as domineering or aggressive.
- But you do need to contribute, otherwise you can’t be assessed! So speak up when appropriate, expanding on someone else’s point, or (tactfully) offering a countering view.
- Listen to others actively, and show this – by nodding, taking notes, etc.
- Keep an eye on time and ensure you cover all the relevant points in your instructions. Consider the overall goal – do you *have* to reach a deal? In which case consider points you could concede during prep.
- Be sure to include others. Story time: on an AC I attended, my negotiating partner had been great in prep, but I guess nerves got to him and he was totally silent during the negotiation! I was worried for him, so said “X, you had some great points on this…” at an appropriate point to encourage him. This got really good feedback; firms are pleased to see when you’re a team player.
- Each side will probably have been given completely opposing briefs! If it’s clear you’re not going to reach consensus on a point, say “Okay, I think we might need to move on for time purposes, but I’ll make a note of that and let’s be sure to revisit it at the end.” This is your ‘issues list’.
- 10 minutes or so before the end, summarise the agreed points and revisit your ‘issues list’.
If it’s required, don’t forget to agree the deal within time!
The partner interview
I know it’s hard, but my biggest tip here is to try your best to relax! If you don’t let your personality shine through it’ll be really hard to build rapport with the partners. In terms of other specific pointers:
- This is a recurring theme of mine, but emphasise what makes you unique. Whether this is past jobs, volunteering, hobbies, life experiences – draw on a range of things in your answers. There’s so much to you, I’m sure; be confident and let them know how fab you are!
- It’s fine to do a bit of research on the partners you’re assigned (if you’ve been told) but don’t waste too much time, as there may be a substitution on the day. My substitution actually turned out to be a massive bonus. I (obviously) didn’t know who they were beforehand; at some point I happened to mention a significant infrastructure deal in the market. Turns out, it was basically her deal! We then got chatting for ages about that. You never know when your prep will come in handy!
- Which brings me on to my next point – the conversation will probably meander along in random directions, and that’s okay. Be prepared to go off-piste. Imagine if the partners had to conduct basically the same final round interview all the time – how boring would that be?!
- Some of the questions might throw you. Don’t panic. They’re assessing how you respond to this, more than what you say. Take a second; respond calmly with as good a logical answer as you can.
- Think of a few insightful questions, but don’t go overboard. In the nicest possible way, the partners will probably be keen to crack on with their very busy day once the interview is over!
I hope these specific assessment centre tips, in relation to the tasks, are useful – you can find more general assessment centre tips in part 2!