Interview tests and exercises: Exercises

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1. Psychometric tests
2. Presentations
3. Assessment centres
4. Group activities
5. Exercises

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Online in-tray tests

Practise in-tray tests as they appear at top employers’ assessment days with online practice packs from JobTestPrep.

Case studies and in-tray or e-tray exercises are business simulation tasks. They are designed to examine skills such as communication, organisational ability, problem-solving, data analysis, planning, time management and decision making. There is usually a time limit on these exercises. After the task you may be asked to justify your actions.

Case study exercises

In these exercises, you will be given a set of documents relating to a hypothetical or real-life situation. You are likely to be asked to analyse it and to give brief verbal or written report of your recommendations.

You may be asked to complete the case study individually or as part of a group. Some employers will set case study exercises as a discrete element of the selection process. Others may combine them with an interview. See the McKinsey&Company Case Study Interview Exercise  for an example of this process.

Tips for tackling a case study

• Practise with sample case studies in advance and brush up on your numeracy skills.
• Research the organisation, its markets and be up to speed on current affairs.
• Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly.
• Read any background information you are given about the organisation, the staff and your role. Focus on key points and make brief notes. This will help you to get a feel for what is important.
• Scan through all items to get an overall view of everything that will need to be considered.
• Try to stay calm. Keep a note of the time to ensure you pace yourself correctly.
• Work as quickly and as accurately as you can.
• When presenting your conclusions or discussing your rationale be as clear as possible and don’t be afraid to disagree with the selector if you feel you have made the right decision.

In-tray/e-tray exercises

These are business simulation exercises in which you are given an in-tray or electronic inbox full of emails, company memos, telephone and fax messages, reports and correspondence. You will be provided with information about the structure of the organisation and your place within it. You are expected to take decisions, prioritise your workload, draft replies, delegate tasks and recommend actions.

Each exercise is designed to test how you handle complex information within a limited time. It allows you to demonstrate that you can analyse facts and figures, prioritise information and make good decisions under pressure.

Tips for tackling an in-tray exercise

• Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly.
• Try to stay calm. Keep a note of the time to ensure you pace yourself correctly.
• Read any background information you are given about the organisation, the staff and your role. Focus on key points and make brief notes.
• Scan through all items in the in-tray or email inbox to get an overall view of everything that will need to be considered.
• Prioritise according to what is most important and most urgent. Decide what can be delegated, forwarded or deferred.
• Identify key issues and any action that must be taken - detailing how, by whom and any timescales or deadlines.
• Highlight any possible resource restraints, conflicts between tasks, or implications for the organisation.
• If asked to draft a written response to any item, identify the main points of your response quickly and expand concisely on these. Keep it as brief as possible - it is easy to get absorbed in this task but be wary of time.
• Remember: there is often no right or wrong answer. Demonstrate that you have identified key issues and give your reasons for all the decisions you make.
• Work as quickly and as accurately as you can.

Online practice tests are available at the following websites:

• Edinburgh University in-tray exercise practice  
• Assessment Day - In Tray Exercise  
• Civil Service Fast Stream - Example e-Tray Exercise  

Check also with your careers service to see what they have to offer.

Essays/written exercises

Some employers may ask you to write an essay or letter on a topic of your choice or one given by them. Others may give you a document to review and improve. Here the selectors are testing how you express yourself, your spelling and grammar and whether you can communicate professionally and effectively.