I have been invited to an assessment centre - How can I prepare?

Assessment Centres are a more in-depth way of assessing candidates, and they normally take place over two or three days. You may be required to participate in a range of different activities and further information about these can be found on our assessment centre web page.

It is a good idea to come and have a look at the resources available on assessment centres.  This should help you to familiarise yourself with the type of things you could expect. There is information available in the form of reference books, a specific file outlining details of assessment centres, a documentary video showing what happens at a real assessment centre, and practice psychometric test leaflets. We also offer practice aptitude testing on a regular basis. The tests we offer are numerical, verbal and diagrammatic. These will give you the chance to practise the tests under controlled conditions and receive individual feedback.

If you are required to give a presentation and you feel concerned about this, then you may want to come and have a practice run with a careers adviser. The Student Learning Centre also have leaflets available on how to prepare and deliver a powerful presentation. The most important thing to do on the day is to contribute fully, be enthusiastic and try to have fun! But remember that you are being assessed from the moment you walk in to when you leave so be polite and courteous to everyone.

How many job applications should I make?

There is no optimum number of applications. For example a candidate may only need to make five applications and find that they are being invited for interview from all the companies they apply to. However, for many people this is not the case. Applications take time and effort and therefore you will need to make an assessment on how much time you have available to devote to completing applications. It is far better to do 10 well thought out and focused applications than to do 100 rushed and unfocused applications. If in doubt come and discuss your strategy with a careers adviser.

For help with applications, visit our resources page for more information on applying for jobs. The Prospects website has more help and information on making applications.

When are the deadlines for graduate applications?

Many graduate recruiters start recruiting a year in advance. This means that if you are a finalist you will need to start making applications at the beginning of your final year; typical closing dates range from December to March.

You will need to check the closing dates in the vacancy bulletins, directories, or the employer files.

We have noticed that some recruiters are now recruiting all year round and therefore you may still be able to apply for jobs after March. However this does not apply to all job areas so you will need to check when the likely closing dates are for the jobs you are interested in. Whatever the situation an early application is generally recommended.

When do I declare my disability when applying for jobs?

You may find it difficult to decide when is the best time to tell a prospective employer about your disability.

At the application stage the decision will sometimes be made for you, as many application forms ask direct questions about disability and health. If this is the case you will probably have to fill in this section explaining your disability, as failure to do so may lead to the company taking disciplinary action against you at a later date. However, if the question is phrased along the lines of "Do you have any medical condition or disability that could affect your ability to do this job?" and, if you genuinely think that your disability does not affect your ability to do the job, then you could answer "No" to this question.

If there is no direct question on the application form or you are applying using a CV you may decide that you would prefer to leave talking about your disability until you are face to face with the employer so that you can explain your individual circumstances more fully. You may be concerned that if you reveal it too soon it might jeopardise your chances of an interview or people may not fully understand the implications and make judgements about you based on limited knowledge and misinformation. In this case you may want to wait until interview before explaining about your disability. This also gives you an opportunity to emphasise all the positive things you have to offer.

If your disability means that you need special arrangements for the interview such as an interview room that is wheelchair accessible, extended time on a psychometric test or the presence of a signer, then you will need to talk to the employer before your interview.

Whatever the situation each individual will want to decide for himself or herself when they feel is the best and most appropriate time to discuss their disability with a future employer. It might be a good idea to come and discuss your particular case with a careers adviser.

• The Prospects website has useful advice on declaring disability and when to do this.
• The Skill website has been written for students and graduates and contains useful advice on this topic.
• There is also a section about equal opportunities in the resources section.

What are the pros and cons of declaring a disability to a prospective employer?

Reasons for disclosure

1. If you declare and then subsequently feel that you have been discriminated against then you can take a claim to an employment tribunal. A company cannot reject you because you are disabled if a reasonable adjustment can be made to accommodate you. (See Disability Discrimination Act 1995)

2. You can control the way your disability is explained to the employer. For example, instead of saying "I have a hearing impairment that causes me difficulties", you could say "Because of my hearing impairment I have an enhanced ability to concentrate which in turn has developed my ability to perform complex tasks such as entering and analysing data on spreadsheets".

3. Failure to accurately complete a health section on an application form may give the employer grounds to subsequently dismiss you.

4. If your disability has any health and safety implications for you or other employees, you are legally obliged to tell your employer.

5. Employers may be worried about the extra costs of employing you so it is worth telling them about the financial support available from the Employment Service's 'Access to Work' scheme. The scheme covers extra equipment and transportation.

Reasons for not disclosing

1. You may feel that you will be discriminated against and therefore rejected by a prospective employer.

2. You may not want to discuss your disability with a stranger.

3. You may feel that your disability has no direct effect on your ability to do the job. On balance it would seem sensible to disclose your disability if there are health and safety issues, if you are asked the question directly on an application form or if you need any special arrangements either at the interview stage or in order to effectively do the job. In other circumstances it may not be appropriate or necessary to divulge your disability and particularly if you feel that it does not affect your ability to do the job. As everyone's situation is different it might be a good idea to come and discuss your personal case with a careers adviser.

How do I go about putting together a CV?

A CV is your personal marketing tool, and as such you need to present your qualifications, skills, attributes and abilities in such a way that clearly shows the employer why you would be suitable for the job on offer. It must be clear, relevant and up to date.

In order to start to put together a CV you need to research the job area, and the company, and analyse why you would be suitable for this job. You then need to assemble all this information in such a way that it not only provides the employer with information about you but also persuades the employer that you are worth interviewing.

There are plenty of resources that can help you with this task and these include:

• Careers website has resources about applications, CVs and covering letters;
• AGCAS leaflet on applications, CVs and covering letters;
• Various reference books on compiling a CV;
• DVDs about applications (CFS access only)
• You may also want to ask for feedback on your CV.