I delivered an assessment centre workshop today – it went well and my co-presenter and I got great feedback. When I came home, I wanted to look for some additional information on behalf of the clients – so I had a quick google. There is an extraordinary amount of information online, freely available and accessible, even about candidates’ experience of particular corporate assessment centres. It made me think about what is the true value of face-to-face work, coaching and seminars.

The interactive nature of the seminar today was for both trainer and client, the most instructive part – something even the best interactive software cannot replicate. One-on-one work with a Career Coach is tailored to the particular client or client group and will probably shorten the amount of time needed to get to grips with the subject matter. Internet searches can be very time consuming (you can waste a lot of time pursuing things that turn out not to be what you need). Also, there’s the benefit of having your questions answered on the spot…Phew, I live to coach and train another day – death by internet overload avoided for the time being.

P.S. Some sites that I do think are helpful are the following:

www.prospects.ac.uk/assessment_centres.htm – graduate level information

http://www.psychometric-success.com/downloads/download-practice-tests.htm – a variety of tests to download

http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/in-tray-exercise.htm – practise an in tray excersise

Many of the university websites also offer excellent links and information e.g. http://www.bris.ac.uk/careers/advice/a-s-centres.asp