By Lok Yi (Chloe) Chin

In November 2025, the Level 5 International Business Management (IBM) students had the valuable opportunity to attend the Internal Assessment Centre hosted by the MIBT department. Despite it being IBM Horizons’ first event, it was a big success.

This blog will describe what happened during the event, my personal takeaways, the value it offered to Level 5 IBM students and some key tips for you to stand out in similar activities.

What happened?

As an element of the ‘Preparing for Employment’ module, this Internal Assessment Centre was attended by all Level 5 IBM students. The activity began with a brief introduction from the hosts and then a group discussion task. With a mix of students on each table, we were assigned to discuss a scenario within 20 minutes, prioritising three facilities for a new hotel in Manchester to attract foreign tourists. Everyone actively participated in the discussion by merging personal thoughts and academic knowledge from the IBM programme, and midway through, an unexpected additional task was announced. This truly put our time management and flexibility to the test. Throughout the discussion, our assessor was observing and taking notes. At the end, each table individually presented the agreed choices to the assessor. To round up this experience, general feedback and advice were given, along with a recognition prize-giving ceremony for all the standout students.

My reflection

This was my very first experience in an Assessment Centre, and it has given me a real taste of Assessment Centre activities. Looking back, I was really nervous the night before, as I was unsure whether I would perform well in the discussions with people whom I had never spoken to. Fortunately, preparing my outfit in advance and arriving earlier at the venue helped me get into the right mindset and improve my performance. I was thrilled to be recognised as a standout student by Dr Qi Cao, Programme Lead for BA (Hons) International Business Management, which made the activity even more fulfilling for me. This activity highlighted the importance of professional skills, such as:

Leadership: Guiding the flow of the discussion and keeping everyone on topic.

Active Listening: Balancing contributions; try not to solely showcase your own thoughts, but also
listen to others’ opinions.

Teamwork: Solving the scenario together and being open to discussions.

Communication: Clearly expressing your viewpoints under timed conditions.

Although often overlooked by us in daily life, these transferable skills are crucial in an interview and workplace setting. To build up these skills daily, activities like volunteering and work experiences could be effective.

Why was it important to Level 5 IBM students?

This Internal Assessment Centre was more than just a module activity. It is insightful for Level 5/Year 2 students since a number of us are actively seeking a summer internship or a placement for next year, or aiming for a graduate job after Level 6/Year 3. Experience is the best teacher, showing that this realistic practice would build a strong foundation for our future careers. This experience developed our skills, as we are turning theories into career-ready practices. The feedback received would also improve our performance before a real Assessment Centre setting. Overall, I have learnt a lot and gained more confidence from attending the Internal Assessment Centre.

Looking ahead: some key tips to stand out in an Assessment Centre

Pick your outfit the night before; business casual or formal works best.

Arrive early; give yourself some time to settle and be focused.

Keep track of time; use a watch or phone timer.

Share your personal opinion, but listen too. You should also give some opportunity for other attendees to show your active listening skills. Positive body language, like nodding and eye contact, would be helpful.

Most importantly, a huge thank you to everyone involved, including IBM Horizons, all staff, professors, and especially Jenny Warburton, our module leader, for making this opportunity so rewarding. I am excited to take part in more opportunities like this to improve my employability for the future.

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Our IBM Horizons: Empowering Employability standout student award winners:

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“It was truly inspiring to witness so many IBM Level 5 students actively participating in our recent Internal Assessment Centre. This initiative wasn’t just an exercise, it was a transformative experience that bridged the gap between academic learning and real-world professional practice. The Assessment Centre provided students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic recruitment scenarios, mirroring the processes used by leading employers. Looking ahead, we aim to expand these initiatives further, creating more opportunities for students to engage with industry professionals, experience real-world challenges, and reflect on their personal development. These experiences are not just add-ons, they are essential steps toward shaping future leaders in international business.”

Jenny Warburton, Module Leader for ‘Preparing for Employment’ module | j.warburton@mmu.ac.uk