2026-04-03
Reading your assessment centre invitation letter
How to decode exercise lists, dress codes, and timing clues from German employer invitations before you prepare.
German employer invitations for graduate schemes vary wildly: some list every station with timing; others send a polite paragraph and a campus address. Treat the letter as a briefing document, not as decoration.
Exercise lists
Words like Fallstudie, Präsentation, Rollenspiel, Postkorb, and Interview tell you where to invest preparation hours. If Gruppendiskussion is absent, do not assume a peer debate will appear — and if it is listed first, expect cooperation to be weighted heavily.
Dress and materials
Business attire is still the default for industrial and banking centres. Bring a notepad even when laptops are allowed; many rooms still prefer paper for timed writing. If the letter mentions a calculator or ID check, pack both the evening before.
Timing clues
A half-day invitation with three stations is a different pacing problem from an eight-hour centre with lunch. Practise with the same energy curve you will face: morning analytical work followed by afternoon interviews feels different from a compressed evening session.
Unsure how to weight practice? Send the invitation and we will recommend a programme mix.