8 Of The Best EPSO Assessment Centre Preparation Resources You'll Find

EU Training

You've been invited to an EPSO Assessment Centre - CONGRATULATIONS!

Chances are you're now on a quest to find the best preparation resources out there to give you that competitive edge.

An EPSO Assessment Centre includes a number of tests, but each needs a very different strategy and approach to master.   

Nerves and an unfamiliar environment means many candidates perform below their potential. That's why it is so important to prepare the right way, so you can walk in with confidence and get those high scores.

Below you'll find a list of the best preparation resources you'll find on EU Training to get you ready for your upcoming EPSO Assessment Centre.

 

#1 Introduction To The EPSO Assessment Centre - FREE WEBINAR! 

Is this your first time at an EPSO Assessment Centre? Are you feeling nervous about the processes and unsure of what to expect? This free webinar is designed to bring you up to speed on the practical aspects of the EPSO Assessment Centre so you can feel relaxed and informed about what you'll encounter on the day. View the recording here

 

#2 EPSO Case Study Exam Insights

Before you start training for this test, we greatly recommend that you invest a little time onto understanding the exam's methodology. This way you'll know what the EPSO Assessors will be looking for and will be able to apply valuable strategies to complete this task correctly. 

The EPSO Case Study Exam Insights webinar gives a detailed overview of the Case Study component of the EPSO Assessment Centre and explores the exam methodologies to get the highest scores, gives practical advice on how to manage your time, discusses terminology, layout, structure and other crucial tips and offers useful references to valuable preparation resources. Included with the webinar is a sample Case Study with solution example, as well as, a Q&A on the topic by our EPSO experts.

Practice makes perfect, so once you understand the methodology start doing a few practice Case Study simulations before the real thing and put your newly acquired strategies to the test. If you want to further improve and get even better results, send your completed answers off for evaluation. Our EPSO experts will review it, score it and give valuable feedback on where you can improve. 

 

#3 EPSO Group Exercise Insights

There are many factors that will influence your success in a Group Exercise that you may not even think about or consider. The ESPO Group Exercise Insights webinar gives a detailed overview of the Group Exercise component of the EPSO Assessment Centre and explores the methodologies to get the highest scores, gives practical advice on how to prepare for this group interaction and how to navigate the complexities of this test, such as watching your body language, dealing with a dominant team member and strategies to impress the assessors.

Watch this webinar to arm yourself with a tool-kit of best practices to use during this exam.

Since the Group Exercise is a practical task involving a group of participants, it is difficult to practice for this exam virtually or by yourself. While there are strategies and best practices that you should collect to mentally prepare in advance, it does not compare with the experience gained from doing a few realistic simulations and learning from these practical interactions.

As a result, EU Training regularly organises Group Exercise simulations to bring together candidates wishing to practice this exercise under exam conditions similar to what they'll experience at the actual EPSO Assessment Centre. In addition to this, the advice and feedback offered by our EPSO expert, who has extensive experience in this area, is priceless. To undertake an EPSO Group Exercise simulation with a qualified instructor join an EPSO Group Exercise Master Class. 

 

#4 EPSO Competency Based Interview Insights

As part of your EPSO Assessment Centre, you may have to undertake a General Competency Based Interview, and possibly even a Specific Competency Based interview (otherwise knows as a Field-related Interview or Interview in the Field) where a competition seeks candidates with specific skills in a certain area of expertise. The aim of each interview and the types of questions and answers being sought by the EPSO Assessors will be vastly different. It's not only important to clearly understand these differences but to also know how to answer these interview questions correctly.

The EPSO Competency Based Interview Insights webinar gives a detailed overview of both the General Competency Based Interview and the Specific Competency Based Interview (also known as Interview in the Field). It explores the methodologies to get the highest scores, gives practical advice on how to structure your interview answers, highlights mistakes commonly made by candidates and offers smart preparation techniques to get ready for both types of interviews.

Once you have reviewed this exam's methodology and collected solid examples from your personal work experiences for each competency being tested, it is time to put your answers and delivery to the test via a Competency Based Interview simulation. Held regularly, the EPSO Competency Based Interview Master Class offers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with our highly experienced instructor, be tested on a number of 'likely' interview questions and learn collectively as a group from the feedback given. Each participant also receives a recording of their performance after the session (if you choose to be recorded), because seeing yourself and your body language under pressure and 'from the perspective of an assessor' is an excellent source for personal development and learning in itself. 

 

#5 EPSO Oral Presentation Insights

Presenting effectively is a skill that is learned and developed over time. And while you may be a confident presenter it is important to note that the EPSO Oral Presentation is a little different to what you're probably used to doing. There are strict time limits set for preparation, the topic area may be new to you and there are certain competencies being measured - which in turn influences how you're expected to present the topic and how you answer follow-up questions. 

The EPSO Oral Presentation Insights webinar gives a detailed overview of the Oral Presentation component of the EPSO Assessment Centre and explores the methodologies to get the highest scores, gives practical advice on how to present the right way and warns you of common presentation mistakes. In addition, it offers useful references to valuable preparation resources and insightful tips from EPSO experts.

Once you're up to speed with all the info on how to present the right way and know what the EPSO Assessors are after, it is time to practice. Do a couple of practice rounds at home with friends and family to get into the swing of the format. Once you're feeling confident and ready to undertake a real simulation with an EPSO expert, then it's time to join an Intensive EPSO Assessment Centre Simulation session or book an Assessment Centre Personal Coaching session. Put your presentation skills to the test before the real thing and get solid feedback on how to improve even further!

 

#6 EPSO Motivational Interview Insights

Only really relevant for the EPSO Administrator Generalists (AD5) competition, this was a relatively recently introduced test.

The EPSO Motivational Interview Insights webinar answers the common questions being asked about this exercise, such as what's the best way to prepare for this type of test; what is EPSO aiming to measure through this test; how will the results of this test affect my overall Assessment Centre score? This webinar was designed to answer your queries and offers a strategic approach to tackle this test.

 

#7 Join An Assessment Centre simulation session

It's no surprise that the tests undertaken at the EPSO Assessment Centre are highly practical in nature. This makes practicing for them a bit more difficult because it isn't the easiest to simulate these exercises under real test conditions without some experienced help. Also, it's really hard to improve or correct mistakes without feedback from people that are experts in this field and know exactly what EPSO Assessors will be looking for. 

This is why we recommend that you attend an EPSO simulation session, where your instructor will be an EPSO expert and a fountain of experience and knowledge. 

  • Full-Day EPSO Assessment Centre Simulation: Many candidates perform well below their potential at the Assessment Centre as they are in an unfamiliar environment where words, actions, and body language matter more than you would initially assume. Improving competencies takes time, dedication and self-practice. Focused heavily on the practical side of the EPSO exams rather than the theory, EU Training’s classroom training sessions are designed to help calm nerves and build candidates’ confidence by simulating EPSO test conditions before the real thing. This training session is tweaked to the groups' needs but includes a Competency Based Interview simulation, Group Exercise simulation, Oral Presentation simulation (if requested) and practical discussions about the Field Interview and Motivational Interview (if required).
     
  • Group Exercise Master Class: This session heavily focuses on and simulates the Group Exercise component of your upcoming EPSO Assessment Centre. During this 4 hour session, TWO full Group Exercise simulations will be run. Each participant will be given the opportunity to have a go and feedback will be provided after each simulation.
     
  • Competency Based Interview Master Class: This session is heavily focused on and simulates the Competency Based Interview component of your upcoming EPSO Assessment Centre. During this 3.5 hours session, participants will be asked to answer a number of 'likely' interview questions. Each participant will be given the opportunity to have a go and feedback will be provided along with a camera recording of your performance to view after the session. 

 

#8 Get some personal coaching from an EPSO expert

If you're looking for some one-on-one, completely tailored to your needs coaching from an EPSO expert, look no further. An Assessment Centre Personal Coaching session is fully customised and tailored specifically to your needs. The focus could be on highlighting improvement opportunities, undertaking Competency Based Interview or Oral Presentation simulations, or discussing Case Study and Group Exercise strategies. The options are limitless, but one thing is for certain, you will enter the Assessment Centre with confidence and preparedness through our AC experts’ guidance.

However you choose to prepare for your upcoming Assessment Centre exams, we wish you the very best of luck!

If you have a question or need additional help in understanding the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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