So how do you give yourself the best chance of being selected for a company graduate scheme? Well the secret is in understanding how the selection process works, which gives you the chance to do the best you can on the day.
Most large company schemes use an assessment event to make their final decision on who they will take on to their schemes.
This article focuses on how to successfully prepare for this type of event and how to perform well on the day itself.
10 Top Tips

• The key to success on these events is to understand the competencies for which companies are looking.
  If you know them you can make sure you are in a position to present yourself 'in your best light'.
  It will give you the opportunity to prepare for the day and this will reduce your nerves and enable you make sure you show the attributes the company is seeking.
  Every company has its own competency set but they are all remarkably similar.
  The first thing to do is ask the company if they will give you the competencies they will be using for selection purposes.
  This is considered good practice so don't be embarrassed to ask.
  If this is not available to you, this list covers the main competencies that are used by companies.
  
  • Curiosity - interest in getting information and digging deeper
  • Drive for results
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Impact and Influencing
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Customer Awareness - internal and/or external

On an assessment day there will be a range of exercises and an interview all designed such that each competency is assessed at least twice.
Although the exercises will vary between companies, a typical one day assessment event will include; one or two group tasks, a presentation, an interview, a personality profile, verbal and numerical reasoning tests.

• Do your research on the company well.
  Make sure you understand what it is they do and how it is organised.
  Also have a look at the latest set of financial results so you have an idea of current performance.
  Use this information appropriately in the interview, it shows 'curiosity' and an interest in the company.
  You can also use the data to find one or two intelligent questions to ask the interviewer on the day
• See if you can find any other ex-graduates that may have attended the same event in the previous year.
  The structure of assessment days does not change much so this could provide you with a clear idea of what to expect
• Make sure you dress in a businesslike manner.
  I know this sounds obvious but I have seen some graduates turn up in jeans and a shirt they might normally wear for a night out.
  Get to the assessment day around 15 minutes early.
  This gives you the chance to see the surroundings and meet the assessors before the formal event starts.
  This will help you with those nerves
• For the interview make sure you have practiced running through your CV so that you can highlight your achievements and skills in around 3 minutes.
  Against each of the competencies look for an example you can use in the interview.
  The interview questions are likely to be framed in a similar way for each competency being assessed, for example, 'can you give me an example of where you have had to influence a group of people to do something your way, what did you do and what was the result?' Make sure in your examples you emphasise the result of what you did
• In the group exercises it is really important to ensure that you make a good contribution.
  Whatever you do make sure you do not sit there and say nothing.
  This will get you a rating of 'no evidence shown' for the competencies being assessed.
  Do not get into arguments, or feel you have to take leadership of the group.
  The key thing is to listen to the contribution of others and either build on their ideas, or constructively argue against them.
  Do not be tempted to become the note taker for the group and be assigned to the flip chart this can limit your ability to contribute to the discussion.
  Keep an eye on the time and if it is running out and no agreement has been reached ensure the group are aware.
  Remember the assessors are looking for examples of behaviours which show strength in the competencies they are evaluating.
  So by acting in the way described here you will at the very least be showing positive evidence of things like; interpersonal, communication, impact and influencing skills
• If you have had to prepare a presentation for the day ensure you have practised it out aloud several times.
  This will make sure you are familiar with the content and confident.
  Make sure it meets the brief and can be done in the time allowed.
  You would be amazed at how many hesitant presenters I have seen, who either do not cover the topic required, or alternatively get stopped because they have over run on time
• You cannot prepare for a personality profile so there is no point in practice.
  Ensure you just answer in the way that it most natural for you.
  Do not try and give answers you think are required, as most tests are designed to show where a candidate has done this.
  At the end of the day you are who you are, and you will either have the personality to fit the role, or you won't.
  
• You can practice verbal and numerical reasoning tests and I believe that this will help you on the day.
  Ask the HR department if they have any practice tests.
  They will normally be happy to send you copies.
  Alternatively there are sites on the internet where test publishers post practice tests
• Remember that during the breaks the assessors are still around.
  Although there may be no formal marking of what you say over lunch, assessors are likely to remember things that are said.
  So for example a candidate that said I'm attending every graduate assessment event I can find did not do himself any great favours.
  This showed he had no particular interest in the company

Having been involved in the selection of literally hundreds of graduates for company schemes I can confidently assure you that if you follow these tips you will give yourself every chance of being selected ahead of your competition on the day.