In-tray and e-tray exercises are designed to assess how well you can read, interpret and apply information to a range of situations. This gives you the chance to prove that you can prioritise under pressure and demonstrate that you meet the competencies of the role which are you applying for. But what does that really mean in practice? And what’s the difference between in-tray and e-tray exercises? In this blog post we’ve set out to discuss some key tips on how to prepare and perform well when being tested in an in-tray or e-tray exercise. Here it goes…
What should I know before taking my in-tray/e-tray exercise?
These exercises are meant to test your ability to deal with a real work scenario, so you’ll be tasked to deal with an inbox of email messages and urgent tasks in a limited amount of time. During the exercise you have to choose a response and/or rank them in order of priority. Both exercises follow a similar format and will assess similar skill sets, the key difference being that an e-tray exercise is a digital equivalent of an in-tray exercise. While you will be provided with hard copies of documents in the latter, the former will use some form of online testing instead.
Some of the skills and attributes an in-tray or e-tray exercise will assess you on are your ability to:
- Process information quickly
- Analyse problems
- Make decisions
- Take action
- Prioritise under pressure
- Manage your time
- Work accurately
- Problem-solve
- Express yourself tactfully
How should I prepare in advance?
- Be aware of how in-tray exercises work! It’s a good thing you’re reading our blog post, because the first step is to know what it is you’ll be facing during your exercise. You’ll find more resources to help you prepare on the King’s Career Kit and on our premium test site: Graduates First
- Research the role and organisation! The more you know about the organisation’s culture, work ethos, structure and the responsibilities you would have in the role you are applying for – the better! The exercise is likely related to the organisation, role and sector, so make sure your understanding and knowledge of these three factors is as in-depth as possible. (You should never meet an employer before having a proper browse of their website anyway!)
- Practice in-tray/e-tray exercises before the real one! Practice makes perfect, so make sure to use all resources available to you before the real exercise takes place. You can access Graduates First through our subscription if you are a current King’s student.
What can I do to perform well?
- Read the instructions carefully and quickly look through all the information you are given.
- Pay attention to any contradictions, anything involving a manager or client and details such as dates (looking out for clashes and deadlines). A low priority email sent weeks ago could now be urgent.
- Choose the option that reflects their priorities as an organisation and the key responsibilities of the role you’re applying for.
- If you’re feeling stressed, deep breathing and positive thinking can do wonders. Keeping calm is the key to success in in-tray/e-tray exercises.
- Be ready for the unexpected!
What should I avoid doing?
- Getting too involved with one email/task.
- Responding before reading all the information or responding to one item and then find conflicting information in another document.
- Not managing your time!
In summary: Stay calm, read through all the information swiftly and then start to prioritise. That’s the key to being successful when doing your in-tray/e-tray exercise! Best of luck!