How In-Tray exercise work?

In-tray exercises is to place you in a realistic although simulated work situation, and to assess your workplace behaviour and attitudes in that context. The point of an in-tray and e-tray exercises is that the skills and attitudes being assessed will be relevant to the job you are applying for; the types of issues and problems you are asked to consider will be similar to those involved in that role.

How many in-tray exercises will there be?

There can be as many as ten to thirty or even more in-tray exercises depending on the company and what the employer wishes to test the graduate or job seeker on. The in-tray exercises
can vary from group to individual assessments.

How will the in-tray exercise be assessed?

The most commonly way that in-tray exercise will be assessed is via:

• Your response to a question in a multiple choice format

• Your performance in an interview with an assessor in which you need to explain and justify your actions and decisions

Occasionally, the graduate or job seeker will be assessed through a combination of these methods. Before you begin, you should be sure to check how you will be assessed, and whether or not you are allowed to write on your in-tray items. If you know you will not have the opportunity to talk through your answers from the in-tray exercise with an assessor at the end, make sure you write down everything you have thought of otherwise you won't get the marks for it.

How do you approach an in-tray exercise?

It is crucial that you identify the key issues arsing from the in-tray exercise. You should aim to complete every task within the in-tray exercise in the limited time given. However, as you are being assessed, it is also important to remember that it is not about getting everything done in the in-tray exercise quickly. Judging on what aspects of the in-tray exercise that are more urgent or important than others, and finding that balance between working effectively and efficiently is what can lead you to a successful outcome in your in-tray exercise.

Links:

Directgov Next Step - Skills health check

WikiJob - In-Tray exercise information

Also see:

Important things to know during the in-tray exercise