Role Play

Role-play exercises are among the most popular assessment tools used by recruiters at an assessment centre. They give employers the opportunity to assess how you perform in an imaginary work-like situation that is similar to a scenario you may face within the role you have applied for.

Some role-play exercises can be bespoke to specific industries such as:

Police role play. This would typically be a scenario where a crime has taken place and you will be expected to play out the role of the police officer on the scene.

This would be a stressful situation to handle, as there will be individuals who may be hurt or emotionally distressed as a result of the crime. You will be expected to handle this in a calm and considerate manner, and demonstrate empathy towards those who have been affected.

Manager role. This would typically be a scenario where you have an unhappy member of staff and you will need to manage the situation accordingly.

Whether you believe the member of staff is wrong or right, you will need to show understanding and empathy, and work with them to find a solution to the issue. You will need to earn their trust and take responsibility for helping them through the issue in hand.

Cabin crew role. This task is typically customer-focused; you can expect to be asked to resolve a customer complaint. The employer will be looking for you to take ownership of the complaint raised, and think on your feet. You will need to show understanding towards the customer and remain calm at all times.

Like all aspects of an assessment centre, we would strongly recommend that you practice these types of scenarios prior to the assessment day. This will help you to demonstrate the skills the employer is looking for, and improve your chances of being successful.