1. Introduction

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for your assessment centre exercises? A recent study found that around one-third of employers use assessment centres in their application processes (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2020).

That’s a brief summary of how you can ace presentation exercises at an assessment centre. Let’s now get into the full details to uncover crucial points you must know to help you overcome this recruitment stage. 

Without further ado, let’s dive right in! 

2. What are Presentation Exercises?

Presentation exercises are commonly used in assessment centres to evaluate the skills and abilities of candidates during the final stages of the recruitment process. Applicants are required to give a presentation on a given topic related to the company or industry.

Presentations for assessment centres focus on examining how well you communicate your ideas to others, whether these are clients, co-workers, or managers. In sales, for example, excellent communication skills will be key to getting patronage from potential clients.

What Happens During a Presentation Exercise?

1. During a presentation assessment centre test, you will be placed in a room with other candidates applying for the same role.

2. You will be then given a brief with a strict time limit to prepare for your presentation exercise based on your understanding or analysis of the topic and the instructions provided.

3. Once the preparation time is up, you will then head to another room to give your presentation to an assessor. Often, only one or two assessors will be present.

4. There will be a fixed time limit to give your presentation, after which there will be a session for questions.

Presentation Exercise

Source: FreePik

So, what exactly do presentation exercises assess?

What Do Presentation Exercises Measure?

Although the specific skills measured may vary depending on the role and the employer, the majority of presentations for assessment centres assess the following skills in candidates:

Overall, a presentation assessment allows employers to evaluate a candidate’s communication skills and capacity to demonstrate the abilities required to be successful in the role.

Looking to prepare for your upcoming presentation assessment?

Having considered what presentation exercises measure, let’s take a look at which industries that use presentation exercises in recruitment in the following section.

What Industries Use Presentation Exercises?

Presentation assessments are often used in recruitment across big industries around the world. Some of the most common industries that use presentation exercises to assess candidates for recruitment are:

• Marketing and Advertising
• Sales
• HR
• Customer service
• Government and public administration
• Law
• Healthcare
• Education

These industries often require employees who possess strong communication skills. Therefore, assessing these skills through a presentation exercise can be an effective means to identify individuals who are smart and confident enough to effectively express their ideas.

Let’s now check out some top employers that use presentation exercises to screen candidates.

Which Employers Use Presentation Exercises?

Here are some top companies that use presentation exercises when recruiting employees.

Most of these companies use other additional exercises alongside presentation exercises in their assessment centre. 

But what are the metrics used in scoring presentation exercises? Let’s consider this below.

How Are Presentation Exercises Assessed?

Presentation exercises are typically scored using slightly different criteria by employers depending upon the specific requirements and objectives of the job role and the company. 

Typically, your recruiters will assess you in the following areas:

• Content: The main points in the presentation, the clarity with which they are presented, and the structure of the presentation.

• Preparation: Is it clear that the candidate had developed a plan and prepared the presentation in a timely manner?

• Timeliness: Does the presentation flow well and conclude comfortably within the time limit? Has the candidate rushed through?

• Engagement: How well does the candidate interact with the assessor/audience? Are all of the audience questions answered?

• Confidence: Is the candidate convincing in their pitch? Are they enthusiastic about their topic?

Check out this 1-minute video to find out all you need to know about competencies and how recruiters assess these in a presentation exercise assessment.

Having discussed how presentation exercises are scored, let’s now look at what an assessment centre presentation exercise looks like.

3. Assessment Centre Presentation Example

Here is a short assessment center presentation example for a marketing manager that has been often used during an assessment centre to assess candidates:

Scenario

You are a marketing manager for your company. You have been asked to give a 20-minute presentation to your colleagues, explaining to them the importance of having a good marketing strategy.

Task

As the manager, you will create a strategy to present to your team in this presentation exercise assessment. Outline your proposed campaign strategy, including advertisement channels, content creation and engagement tactics, and analytics.

Assessment Criteria

• Content: You must demonstrate a clear understanding of the company, its values, and the target audience. The presentation should clearly detail the proposed marketing strategy, including key objectives and channels used.

• Delivery: The presentation should be engaging and well-structured, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You should use appropriate language and tone, and should speak clearly and confidently.

• Visual Aids: Slides and any handouts used in the presentation should be clear, relevant, and effective in supporting the marketing strategy pitch.

• Time Management: The presentation should be delivered within the allocated time of 20 minutes, demonstrating effective time management skills.

• Engagement: You should be able to engage the assessor, hold their attention, and respond to questions in a clear and concise manner.

• Professionalism: Your presentation must show professionalism and ethical conduct and must demonstrate an understanding of the marketing industry.

• Impact: Your presentation should be memorable and leave a positive impression on the audience, showing that you have the ability to lead the marketing strategy.

Top 5 Tips to Pass your Assessment Centre Presentation

Here are some tips for this assessment centre presentation example:

1. Keep your presentation simple and clear. Consider using images, charts, and bullet points to drive your pitch.
2. Use real-life case studies and examples to support your points. Show that you have an in-depth knowledge of the industry.
3. Show enthusiasm by speaking confidently, maintaining eye contact, and using hand gestures.
4. Encourage your audience to ask questions and participate in your presentation, either at the end of a topic or after the presentation.
5. Finish your presentation within the allocated time. Practice your timings before giving the main presentation to be sure it is complete within the 20 minute time limit.

As well as a marketing strategy pitch, there are other common presentation styles you might face. 

Let’s check out other assessment centre presentation examples you could encounter at an assessment centre.

Other Common Presentation Assessment Examples

Presentation assessments will vary depending on your employer or their industry. However, here are the most commonly used presentation exercises to screen candidates in assessment centres.

So how can you practice for these presentation exercises and ace them at the assessment centre? Let’s find out.

4. How to Prepare and Ace Presentation Exercises

Presentation exercises can be tricky and require careful execution attention to win the hearts of the assessors. Here are our 7 key tips to help you ace presentation exercises in your assessment centre.

Top 7 Tips to Ace Your Presentation Exercise

1. Take Presentation Practice Exercises: This will help to boost your confidence in your presentation. Seek feedback from your friends to improve your communication skills as you practice the presentation assessment examples.
2. Know Your Facts: Once you are provided with the topic and candidate brief, make sure that all the external information you provide to back your presentation is accurate and informative.
3. Record and Time Yourself: Time yourself when you practice presentation exercises. Presentation exercises usually last about 10-20 minutes. Be sure to manage your time and stay on track with your presentation task example.
4. Do Your Presentation Practice With Visual Aids: Work on your slides to make them simple and unique with pictures, bullet points, and flow charts. Visual aids can help structure your presentation and ensure clarity.
5. Be Confident and Professional: Maintain a calm demeanour, be positive, and maintain eye contact with your audience. Try to also use appropriate body language like hand gestures and good facial expressions.
6. Dress Appropriately: Dress in an appropriate business outfit, one you would typically wear to work if given the role. Remember that first impression matters.
7. Involve Others: Ask the audience questions as you give your presentation to engage them. Use them as examples in your presentation if possible, and be sure to take their questions at the end of your delivery.

That’s the gist of presentation exercises and how to ace them. If you have other questions about presentation assessment tests, here are the top questions other candidates are asking.

5. Presentation Exercises FAQs