An In-tray exercise is a paper based business simulation most frequently used to assess job applicants. When you sit in-tray exercises you will usually be given a scenario and a number of related documents, such as letters from the company, organisation charts and news reports. You will then be required to make decisions during the test and produce responses to certain tasks to the in-tray deadline. In-tray tests tend to last 1-2 hours in which you'll have to:
- Make calculations
- Extract information from data
- Make judgement calls dealing with demanding managers/unhappy clients etc.
It is worth noting that there is also a very similar type of test, called an E-tray test. This is basically the same type of test, delivered electronically. Questions and answers tend to be longer in an in-tray exercise than in the E-tray exercise, which is usually multiple choice format.
In-tray Written Exercises
[Edit]Some in-tray exercises will have a written part as well, where you will be required to respond to an email. Typically, no spell-checker is provided, so you must be certain to use words that you can spell confidently. Make sure you respond in a style appropriate to the email you have been sent, and ensure that it has a clear, logical structure. Keep watch over time, and make sure you proof read what you have written before the time is up.
In-tray at the Assessment Centre
[Edit]Many large graduate recruiters (particularly financial institutions and accountancy firms) use in-tray exercises (or on occasion e-tray exercises) during their candidate assessment centre. If this is the case you will usually be informed of this before the actually assessment centre itself.
Some companies may ask you to complete an e-tray test before any form of official interview, as these types of tests can be delivered electronically, to your home computer, as a first stage test before the telephone interview.
Practice In-tray Exercises
[Edit]It can be very useful to take practice in-tray or e-tray tests before you sit the real thing. Practising these types of test means that you can become more familiar with the type of questions you will be asked, and learn how to answer questions quickly, within tight time constraints.
Useful Links
[Edit]- Real life training and practice In-tray and e-tray tests are available here.
- Another good example of an In-tray exercise can be found on the University of Edinburgh's careers website (this particular In-tray test has been provided by KPMG).
- For further information on in-tray and e-tray exercises visit the WikiJob Aptitude Test forum.
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As a Team leader I do not agree with the answer to example 5 of the University of Edinburgh Career- it can be tiring if people continually bring press reports to your attention- they become time bandits. By all means share the information in the appropriate context. A really good In tray exercise can be downloaded at- http://www.ipmaac.org/conf02/ibprep.pdf
This is the US Ministry of Justice Immigration and Naturalisation example test. Lot of memos/letters/e-mails to absorb and make decisions on. I also understand that the Civil Service Fast stream programme has a 'live ' intray exercise where the messages appear on screen.