In tray exercises - any recruitment specialists around?

[Jennypog]

Hi

I have an interview for a managerial job in the public sector next week and part of the interview is an in tray exercise. I haven't ever done this before and just wondered what to expect?

Thanks in advance.

Jennypog it will be one or more pieces of work to do that you would come across in the job. They are more common for administrative posts, letters to type, that kind of thing.

Don't know what kind of thing you'd have to do for this job, but you could be given a list of things that are in an 'in-tray' and asked to prioritise them, for example, or say what you would do.

Bumping in case anyone recruits at management level in public sector and knows more about the exact kind of thing.

examples here??

I do this, but more for internal promotion (to junior management level) in the public sector (although it is used for recruitment as well). You are usually given a scenario and a list of stuff that needs to be done. You either have to delegate (and say to whom) or do it yourself and get the priorities right. It usually includes some difficult staffing issues and how you might tackle them, writing a short paper on something (or delegating it).

Most people (IME) try to do everything themselves, which isn't what's looked for and prioritise badly. I think a lot of people panic and don't read the brief properly - ie if something needs to be done pronto for the head honcho, then do that first, don't leave it till last.

Strangely, a large number of people also do the tasks in the order they appear on the briefing paper, which also isn't what is needed!

So I think my key piece of advice would be, read the brief!

Thanks for your help everyone! I shall have a look through the examples - all much appreciated!