Career Development Workshop

Final Year

finding and getting the right job

workshop objectives
acquire tools to find out about yourself
personality
skills and aptitudes
values and motivations

be able to find out about jobs for mathematicians

understand and manage the application process

writing a CV
writing a cover letter
applying for jobs
interviews

finding and getting the right job:

what the workshop will cover

what is my personality profile?

what are my strengths?
what are my values?
what kind of careers are open to me?
writing a CV
writing a cover letter
applying for jobs
interviews
resources

personality profile
based on Myers Briggs Type
on-line questionnaire:- choose between pairs of
statements
e-mailed report
16 personality types based on preferences

extraversion introversion
sensing intuition
thinking feeling
judging - perception

personality types suggest

what you are most comfortable doing?

why do you work?
what kind of environment?
what type of activity?
what type of contribution?
how you manage your time
how you get results
how you manage change
interaction needs with others
relationship style

personality types also suggest

how people see you

as a leader
as a manager
as a decision maker
in resolving conflict

your best assets

your potential weaknesses

assessing your skills

identify your strengths
rate your skills and attributes
be realistic
consider evidence for high scores
where you consider you are above average

will suggest
the kind of jobs to look for
the kind of jobs to avoid

show where you need to plan your development

assessing your values and

motivations

what is important to you?

what motivates you?
focus your research about companies
suggests questions to ask in interviews

quantitative skills you should have

developed during your maths degree

analysis and interpretation of data

designing and conducting experimental studies and tests
high computer literacy
analytical approach to problem solving, formulating and
testing theories
dealing with abstract concepts
presenting mathematical arguments with accuracy and clarity
advanced numeracy skills
clear logical thinking

soft skills you could have developed

through your time at university
communications written and verbal
personal time management, producing results against
deadlines
organisational skills
teamwork skills
ability to work independently
potentially many others depending on your activities

influencing, negotiating
presenting

hard skills you could have developed

through your time at university

excel / access / powerpoint

project management, PERT planning
speaking another language
programming

some jobs specifically for

mathematicians and statisticians

actuary insurance companies, banks, professional firms

statistician pharmaceutical industry etc.
quant - banking
operations research GORS, large companies
weather forecasting Met Office
secondary school teaching
geophysicist
quality control engineering
postgraduate research MSc/PhD or research and
engineering companies

occupations requiring
general numeracy skills

accountancy
insurance
management consultancy
market research
banking and finance
programming
software engineering
taxation
social research
economist
etc.

general graduate jobs

where degree subject is unimportant

management training schemes
you wont be competing using your mathematical skills
the choice is enormous use the resources available

some jobs for last years Surrey maths

graduates

3M
Allianz
Bossmosix
DFDS
DSG
ES Pipeline
Geokinetics
Jardine Lloyd Thompson
News Quest
OOCL
Bank of England
Direct Line
Nomura

Accounts Assistant
Pricing Analyst
IT Administrator
Operations Co-ordinator
Retail Customer Advisor
Market Analyst
Processing Geophysicist
Pensions Administrator
Trainee Financial Accountant
Operations Controller
Management Account Analyst
Group Pricing Analyst
Financial Controller

more jobs (not counting teaching and

postgraduate research)

Barclays Global Operations

Lloyds Banking Group
The Automobile Association
Coller Capital Investment
Atos
Debenhams
EEA Fund Management Ltd
First Actuarial
HSBC Bank
Microsoft Ltd
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Save the Children
Australian Commonwealth Bank

Analyst
Risk Analyst
Insight Analyst
Accountant
IT Consultant
Project Administrator
Junior Analyst
Student Actuary
Analyst
Data/Web Analyst
Associate
Customer Service
Trainee Accountant

job finding resources

www.surrey.ac.uk/careers
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.targetjobs.co.uk
www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.mathscareers.org.uk
professional bodies

www.siam.org
www.theorsociety.com
www.ima.org.uk
www.actuaries.org.uk

other universities career service websites

use your imagination and the computer!

creating your CV

the purpose of a CV
structure
content
cover letter
resources to help you

assess this CV
would you select this applicant for interview?
how many mistakes can you find?

purpose of a CV

from your point of view

to get the interview, not the job
to demonstrate in the CV that you have the skills, experience
and motivation

from the employers point of view

to weed out unsuitable candidates quickly
to make a short list

imagine that you are the product

and the CV is your advertisement

get your unique selling propositions (USPs) across

you only have a few seconds attention from the reader
your particular strengths
unique combinations of attributes
what do you have that the competition doesnt?

things to think about

first impressions are critical in job hunting as in life.

the CV and the covering letter are your first contact with a potential employer.
your CV is competing with all the other CVs
the CV needs to show immediately that you have

the relevant aptitudes, skills and knowledge

the necessary experience
the motivation

these features can be demonstrated by your CV

how the CV is written is as important as what it contains

structure

Up to you its your CV

must be logical and easy to follow
everything the reader needs must be clear and easy to find
typical example

education
employment (includes work experience, volunteering)
skills and aptitudes
interests
bio data
references

two pages of A4 and be able to produce a one page version

explore internet for examples

style

sharp, positive and focussed

most space given to most important aspects
make every word count
reverse chronological order for education and
employment
bullet points short and punchy, not prose
active verbs e.g. organised, managed, presented
dont use the word I
dont repeat yourself

education
give your overall marks for years 1, 2 and S1 year 3, dont list
modules studied
individual module marks if very good and relevant to the job
A levels and year, AS if different subjects
list GCSEs briefly but mention specifically English and foreign
languages
awards, scholarships and prizes (most emphasis on
university)

possible education template

Education
2012 present

University of Surrey

BSc Mathematics

2010 2012
A level

2005 2010
GCSE

year 1 mark 68%

year 2 mark 66%

St Johns College, Wigan

Maths (A*) Biology (B) Physics (A)

Templecourt School, Warrington

7 A, 3 B, 1 C including English (A),
French (B)

employment
company name, location (not address), job title, dates e.g.
6/11 9/11
describe companys business
list what you did and the results you achieved and any
achievements
describe any training given
include volunteering or internships in same detail
briefly mention short work experience
dont cover skills used or developed

possible employment template

Employment
4/10 -9/10 Courtaulds Ltd, Coventry
Artificial and Synthetic Fibres Division
Laboratory technician
o
o
o
o

set up apparatus for preparation of novel compounds

carried out syntheses and tested resulting products using mass spectrometry
wrote up reports of work carried out
presented verbal report on work at weekly meetings

skills and aptitudes

developed from studies, employment, volunteering, interests
either integrate into sections with the activity - but risk of repetition
or a specific section

give evidence for each claimed skill

no clichs
select your key strengths
where you think you are better than most

Skills and Aptitudes

written communications
oral communications
problem solving
leadership
creative thinking
numeracy
team working
commercial awareness
language skills
judgment
IT
negotiating
persuading
decision making
time management
project management
self motivation
ability to meet targets and deadlines
customer relations
flexibility
practical skills

aptitudes that employers want most

verbal communications
team working
integrity
intellectual ability
self-confidence
organisational skills
interpersonal skills
writing ability
numeracy
analytic skills/decision making

interests

demonstrate breadth of personality

if you dont have any get some!
socialising with friends doesnt count
current/recent most important
sports, clubs, charities, cultural activities
interesting travel, projects
be specific what, when, what level, where
be aware of current affairs
listen to radio 4, Today programme
read a quality newspaper

bio data

a reader friendly CV

logical structure
all key information clear and easily available
no jargon, no acronyms
professional looking presentation

text balanced over 2 pages

good use of white space
good quality paper
single conventional font e.g.
verdana

ariel
times new roman

11 or 12 point size, but headings can be larger, use bold, italic and
underline appropriately CAPITALS CAN BE UGLY

putting the CV together

sweet spot middle of first page should have your
best aspects
get someone else to check it before you send it
especially if English is not your mother tongue
spelling and grammar must be perfect
never rely on spell check e.g. hobbit
never tell lies
everything on the CV must be true
not everything that is true must be on the CV
blow your own trumpet but no hyperbole

some signs of a bad CV

more than 2 pages long

poorly word processed or printed
section breaks over page
gaps in chronology
spelling or grammar mistakes
irrelevant, trivial details
gimmicky fonts
quirky presentation

employers pet hates in CVs

typos
inappropriate e-mail addresses
no section on key skills
more than two pages
decorative paper
with a photo

61%
35%
30%
22%
20%
13%

personal statements?

I have a real passion for learning and I approach all tasks with great
enthusiasm. I am a responsible and reliable student who is willing to
work hard in order to develop my career.
actual statement from a student on 72% overall

I have a real passion for learning (obvious you got a first) and I
approach all tasks with great enthusiasm (where is the proof?). I am a
responsible and reliable student (repeated what you just said in the
first sentence) who is willing to work hard in order to develop my
career (can you imagine someone saying that they are not willing
to work hard to develop their career?).

use the not test

I am a hardworking and honest individual and an excellent
timekeeper
I dont work hard, Im not particularly honest and I am a poor
timekeeper
but when might these three attributes be worth putting down?

sending CVs to employers

use original print hard copies not photocopies
send to named individual with cover letter
electronically use a PDF

cover letters

grab the readers attention and interest

highlight the relevant skills and experience in your CV
show you have done your research on the job/activity and employer
demonstrate why you want to work for that employer
could be applying for a vacancy or speculative

writing the cover letter

no more than of a page of A4

addressed to a named individual
specific for particular application even with a template
written in formal business style
well laid out, clear and easy to follow
perfect spelling and grammar
good quality paper

cover letters are formal

written English is not spoken English written down
some words to avoid
dont, cant, Id, Dad, shouldnt, its (which only means it is!)
dont start sentences with and, but
typed, not handwritten but signed by hand if a paper copy
could use an electronic signature for letter sent by e-mail
short sentences each with a verb, subject and object

typical structure of cover letter

your address and the address of the company
subject e.g. professional placement/ job title
para 1 introduce yourself, what job you are applying for, where you
saw it advertised
para 2 why do you want to work in this job/activity?
para 3 why do you want to work for this company?
para 4 why you are a suitable candidate, what relevant skills and
experience you bring
positive ending
your signature
your name

useful resources
CVs and cover letters

www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/leaflets/index.htm
www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/work/cv/index.htm
www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs_and_cover_letters.htm
www.surrey.ac.uk/destinations/units/unit-cv005.shtml
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-hunting-toolsdownloads

Applying for jobs abroad:

www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/work/abroad/index.htm

doing your research

sector
e.g. retail distribution

activity/occupation
e.g. operations research

company or organisation
e.g. Tesco

specific job
e.g. transportation planner

researching the sector

e.g. retail, oil, manufacturing, financial services, transport etc.
find out

main organisations in the sector

history and market trends
types of products and services being sold
customer types
language and terminology
job roles and associated skills

major company websites about us pages

books, newspapers, magazines bluffers guides
blogs e.g. search blog transport and pod casts
on-line chat rooms

researching the activity/occupation

what are the jobs?, what are the requirements? what are the
career prospects and the rewards?
professional bodies e.g.

society of actuaries
accountancy bodies: CIMA, ACAA, CIPFA
mathematics societies: SIAM, Operations Research Society
engineering societies

search careers websites for occupations e.g.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm (UK)
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careersatoz (US)

researching the company

company history, structure and strategy

its products, services and markets
its corporate values and culture
latest news and achievements
analysts reports
competitor information
resources
http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/research-employers
http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/research_company
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2142

Typical Selection Process

Final
interview
First Interview /
Telephone Interview
Online tests (aptitude, psychometric)
CV, letter, application, online application

application forms

usually on-line
employer decides questions
look for evidence of specific competencies
easy to compare candidates
transparent and fair approach
cost efficient with large number of applications

application forms - types of questions

fundamental data do you meet the basic requirements?
open ended questions also for interviews
motivation for the job
what attracts you to the organisation?
competency based questions

completing the form top tips #1

allow plenty of time

take as much care on-line as on paper
take as much care as in a CV
read the whole form first before you start
read the instructions and do exactly as they say
answer all the questions unless instructed otherwise
print or copy and paste the questions into a new document to plan
what goes where

top tips #2
understand the organisations business functions
if there is an option of ticking different kinds of job select those that
are similar
save a copy as you go along, else copy and paste into a separate
document
write formally, no abbreviations no txtspk
use active words
organised, improved, managed, planned

companies may scan for key words

make sure they are there

if there is an additional information section use it for special

details you think are important but not covered

top tips #3
check spelling, punctuation and grammar
spell-check must be English (UK)
keep a copy of the application, date submitted and any contact
details given

but be aware

you may not be able to view the whole form before you start
you may be required to complete the form in one go
you may get timed out of a page
options in drop-down menus may not be the choice you want
may not be a spell-checker
keep within any set word counts

likely questions to expect

on application forms

why do you want to work for us?

show me that you understand the business/industry/job
what are your interests?
give examples of when you have had leadership positions or shown
leadership
why are you the best candidate for the job?
what are your strengths/achievements/additional qualifications?
computer literacy
language capability
examples of working in a team
examples of problem solving
what have you learnt from previous jobs/work experience, volunteering?
give examples where you have provided excellent customer service

competency questions
the following questions are designed to encourage you to
provide evidence of specific abilities
analyse the competencies required by the company and think of
occasions when you have used them
choose the best examples from all aspects of your life education,
employment, volunteering, interests not just coursework
use different scenarios to answer each competency question
keep your examples to the last five years
draft answers in Word and spell-check then copy

application forms - style

short, punchy sentences, no waffle
action: verbs in active not passive (improved, not was
improved)
answer questions with evidence of your skills not opinions
your motivation should be what they can get from you, not
what you hope to get from them
explain why you want the job and what you will bring to it
dont use the word I
be truthful and positive - without exaggeration

typical competency question #1

describe a challenging project, activity or event which
you have planned and taken through to a conclusion.
Include your objectives, what you did, any changes you
made to your plan and how you measured your success
structure your answer using STAR
situation
task = objective
action = what I did
result = what happened

typical question #2
describe a team in which you have worked with other
people. How would you describe your contribution?
structure of your answer
individual role
what skills did you demonstrate?
consequences of your actions
interactions with the team

typical question #3
Describe your most significant non-academic
achievement. Why did you regard it as significant?
structure of your answer

importance of the situation for you

evidence of a goal
motivation
obstacles overcome
enthusiasm
what skills/aptitudes have you gained from the experience?

typical question #4
why do you want to apply for this job? What do you have
to offer this role?
sell yourself but dont hype!
know the work involved and have researched the company
self assessment of your strengths
think what contribution you could make to the aims of the
business

some more examples

tell us about an occasion when you dealt with conflict.
How did you resolve it? (100 words)
what is your greatest achievement? (50 words)
give an example of a time when you successfully led a
team (200 words)

answering open ended questions

follow the instructions to the letter

plan your answer logically
right amount of detail
emphasise skills
make sure the form explains
why you want a career in this area
how your skills, interests and experience make you suited to the job

common causes of rejection at the

application stage

examples all from the same part of your life

not enough detail
too much detail
vague or woolly answers be specific
not answering the questions
not following instructions e.g. word limit
lack of attention to detail
poor spelling, punctuation and grammar
not convincing as to why you want the role

useful resources on-line applications

http://www.selectsimulator.com/
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/career_videos.htm (Online
applications)
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/job_applications_online_application
s.htm
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs
http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/career-advice/2611

purpose of an interview
conversation not interrogation
opportunity for the company to find out about you
opportunity for you to find out about the company

interview skills

understand what to expect at a selection interview

know how to prepare effectively
gain an insight into possible questions
answering competency questions
know where to get help

types of interview

telephone
first
second
format
one to one
panel
competency based
technical
case study

preparation for an interview

if you fail to prepare, be prepared to fail

research the employer and the job

know your application inside out
why do you want the job?
your future ambitions
at least two examples of each skill they are seeking
in front of your mind
achievements academic, employment etc.
strengths and areas for development

key preparation
what kind of interview will it be?
who will be doing the interview?
how are you going to travel to the interview?
where is it?
how long will it take to get here?
give yourself plenty of time

what will you wear (smart)?

more preparation on the

company and the job

what are the companys values?

why are you interested in this company?
what will the job entail?
what questions are they likely to ask?
what do you want to know in more detail?

..from the interviewers perspective

can you do the job?
ability, qualifications, knowledge, experience

will you do the job

motivation, attitude, enthusiasm

will you fit in?

personality
fit with the team
fit with the culture

practicalities
on the day

copy of CV/application and list of your questions

plan your journey
arrive 15 minutes early
switch off your phone

travel arrangements

check location
plan your route
check timetables/book ahead
trial run?

be polite to everyone

mental preparation

believe in yourself think positive!

visualize a successful outcome
practice answering questions talk to yourself
focus on your USPs
what are the questions youd least like to answer?

types of questions

why this job? why this organisation?

open ended questions
tell me about yourself
tell me about your course

scenarios
what would you do if..?
How would you..

technical skills
specific to your area of expertise
specific to the job
your approach to technical problems

competency based

examples of
competency based questions

teamwork
can you think of a recent example where you have worked effectively as
part of a team? What was your role. What challenges did you face?
communication
describe a situation where you had to negotiate to achieve a desired
outcome
initiative
give us an example of an occasion when you have come up with a new
idea or process
persuasion
tell me about an occasion when you have persuaded others to adopt your
course of action
flexibility
describe a time when you have had to deal with a changed direction or
deadline mid way through

follow the STAR

situation
what was the situation in the example?

task
what was the problem, goal or challenge?

action
what action did you take
be specific about your role

result
what was the outcome?
what would you do differently next time?

example of a
role specific competency question
for a role in customer services
describe a situation where you had to deliver
excellent customer service.

hard questions (actually asked!)

if you were to win 1m what would you do with the money?

what do you think is the most useful function in Excel?
what is it about this job that you would least look forward to?
tell me about a time when you failed at something
how would you explain Facebook to your Grandma?
what have you done in the past to get out of a tricky situation?
what do you mean by leadership?
who is your biggest hero?
do you think the quality of our menswear products is as high as our home
department products?
by what criteria do you judge your own performance?
what are your weaknesses?
how would your friends describe you?
where do you want to be in five years time?
what makes you get up in the morning?

obscure questions (actually asked!)

how do you fit a giraffe in a frig?
would you rather fight a horse sized duck or 100 duck-sized
horses?
why is 99% not good enough?
how many ways can you get a needle out of a haystack?
in a fight between a lion and a tiger, who would win?

non-verbal communication

at least as important as verbal

firm handshake and genuine smile
appearance neat, clean, polished
make and hold eye contact with the interviewer
confident tone of voice
speak clearly, measured pace and project your voice
sit with an alert but relaxed posture
demonstrate interest

first impressions count the first five minutes are crucial

your questions for the interviewer

always have some interesting questions ready

do your research on the company especially recent news
who, which departments would I be working with?
how do you see the company developing in the future?
what is the best thing about working here?
dont ask about questions already answered in material sent to you
e.g. pay, holidays

performing in the interview

keep calm, slow down

dont fill the silences
never be derogatory be positive
have answers to the obvious questions ready
give evidence for any assertions you make about yourself

positive body language

sit up straight, smile
try not to fold your arms or cross your legs
look at the interviewer

common causes of rejection at the

interview stage

examples all from the same part of your life

not enough detail
too much detail
verbose, vague or woolly answers
irrelevant answers
not answering the questions asked
not convincing as to why you want the role
mumbling and muttering
poor body language

Have you ever had a bad experience with

an employer?
Yes. I had a temp job over the summer and my boss was
away a lot, which meant I was basically expected to do
her job as well as mine, and I was completely overloaded
with really boring, mundane tasks. I posted something
about the situation on my Facebook page and got the
sack.

what is wrong with this answer?

how could the question have been answered?

a better answer
I had a summer office job and my boss was away a lot. That
meant that I had to take responsibility for her work as well as
mine, which gave me a lot of interesting experience. However
I also had to do my own job and there was no extra support,
so I was working late most evenings (without extra pay) and
occasionally at weekends. I eventually found it too stressful
and decided to leave. But I learnt a lot from that experience
about managing time and the need to prioritise.

end of the interview

thank them for seeing you
remain confident throughout
afterwards
reflect on and learn from the experience what went well/less
well, what will I do next time?
note any difficult questions

ask for feedback if you get rejected

telephone interviews
be flexible in arranging a time
take the call in a quiet room, no interruptions, table in
front of you with paper and pen
have your CV/application form in front of you
have your examples for competency questions ready
listen carefully
speak clearly, dont rush
dont be afraid of silences

help with interviews

www.surrey.ac.uk/careers (including online videos)
www.prospects.ac.uk/interview_tips.htm
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-techniques
www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/common-interview-questions
mock interviews book through Careers Service

what are Assessment Centres?

a selection method consisting of a variety of exercises
aimed at measuring your suitability for the job
usually last for a half or full day, occasionally two days
the exercises are aimed at measuring specific
competencies

assessment centres are about:

Meeting people:
selectors, current
graduates, senior
staff, other
candidates
Gathering
information:

Demonstrating
your potential:

about the
organisation, the
job, and the working
culture

tests and
exercises about
your
competencies

examples of exercises
which might be used

group discussions
personality and aptitude tests
in-tray exercise
presentations
role plays
case studies
interviews
written tests (drafting a letter or report)
social events

preparation
research the organisations website
draw up a list of your main strengths, focusing on those most
relevant to what you have applied for
think of questions you may want to ask
plan to arrive in good time for the start
converse with other candidates - this will help break the ice
when it comes to group exercises later

your performance
you are not being assessed on what you know but on how you
think. Be yourself
listen carefully to the instructions given to you at the start of
the day and always read the information thoroughly
the assessment centre will give you a number of chances to
show your strengths and meet their criteria
stay focused and motivated throughout the day
you are being measured, not against other candidates, but
against certain criteria

structure of a typical one day

assessment centre
09.00 - 09.45
09.45 - 11.15
11.15 - 11.30
11.30 - 13.00
13.00 - 14.00
14.00 - 15.00
15.00 - 15.15
15.15 - 16.00
16.00 - 17.00

Arrival, administration,
ice breaker introductions
Psychometric Tests
Coffee
Group Exercise
Lunch
Presentations followed by
Interview 1
Tea
Interview 2
Feedback on tests etc. and
final briefing

example structure of a two day

Assessment Centre
Day One:
14.00 15.00 Arrival, administration,
icebreaker, introductions
15.00 15.30 Tea
15.30 17.30 Tests (verbal, numeric, etc.)
19.30 22.00 Informal dinner at hotel or
company premises

example structure of a two day

Assessment Centre day 2
08.30 - 09.30
09.30 10.30
10.30 11.00
11.00 12.30
12.30 13.15
13.15 14.00
14.00 15.45
15.45 16.15
16.15

Test feedback
Group Exercise # 1
Coffee
Group Exercise #2
Lunch
Group Exercise feedback
Interviews (2 x 45 mins)
Final Briefing
Depart

typical competencies being assessed

interpersonal skills
team working skills
communication
problem solving
analytical thinking
time management

planning and organising

initiative
flexibility
business awareness
creativity

aptitude and psychometric tests

aptitude/ability
timed, multiple choice, often online.
test capability in numeracy, verbal reasoning, diagrammatic
reasoning.
need to work quickly and accurately
you can practise!

personality questionnaires
establish your preferred style of working e.g. in a team or
independently
you cannot really practise for these

aptitude tests how can you

practise?
take practise tests online - numerical, verbal, abstract
reasoning.
www.surrey.ac.uk/careers
Click on link to Practice Aptitude Tests for login details

practise online www.shldirect.com

BPS Testing Centre www.psychtesting.org.uk

group activities
leaderless discussion group
assigned group roles - each member of the team may be
given a role to play
case study - undertaken individually or as a group
practical team exercises
both indoors and out
build something using restricted materials
teams may be in competition with each other

What are employers looking for in

group exercises?

influence and persuasiveness

participation within the group
verbal fluency
quality of thought
determination
originality of ideas
open mindedness
facilitation of discussion

group discussions - tips

make an early contribution
listen, include others, summarise, compliment, build on what
others have said
try not to interrupt
make interventions crisp and frequent
watch the time
be yourself

in-tray exercises
business simulation exercises
in-tray or electronic inbox full of emails, company memos, telephone
messages, reports and correspondence

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
recommend actions

each exercise is designed to test how you handle complex

information within a limited time.
may be asked to give a verbal or written report of your
decisions/recommendations

in-tray exercises tips and practice

fast-paced and evolving interactive e-tray exercise aiming to portray
working life in the civil service:
http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/applicationprocess/application-advice
Deloitte discuss the use of E-tray exercises in their recruitment
process:
http://mycareer.deloitte.com/uk/en/university/applynow/selection-process/etray-exercise-and-examples
www.assessmentday.co.uk/in-tray-exercise.htm
www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/applicationsinterview
s/assessmentcentres (Click on In-tray exercise guide)

presentations
may receive topic in advance or on the day
find out if you can use visual aids and if so what equipment is
available
practise out loud and keep to time
structure it with a clear introduction, middle and conclusion
try to keep to six main points
use cards as prompts
start with a good opening line
make eye contact
project your voice
smile and use humour if appropriate
make sure you know your material and be prepared for
questions

written exercise or case study

you may have to write a summary of a report, if so keep it
concise
use your judgement to analyse the text and only include what
is relevant
demonstrate your clear thinking
use your imagination if asked for a solution
be diplomatic
watch the time skim read long documents

essays/written exercises
write an essay or letter on a topic of your choice or one given
by them
give you a document to review and improve
the selectors are testing
how you express yourself
your spelling
your grammar
whether you can communicate professionally and effectively

tips on tackling case studies #1

practise with sample case studies in advance
research the organisation, its markets and be up to speed on
relevant 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 to get a feel for what
is important

tips on tackling case studies #2

scan through all items to get an overall view of everything that
will need to be considered
stay calm
keep a note of the time and 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
dont be afraid to disagree with the selector

role plays
for certain types of role e.g. customer facing posts, sales
positions or human resource management roles
one to one situational role plays.
an assessor or fellow candidate may take the part of a customer or member
of staff with you being required to deal with a particular problem

social events

remember that your social skills will be observed

be careful at dinner!
be equally nice to everyone you meet
ask employees about their own career paths and try to find
out more about the organisation

final tips
you may not perform your best in one exercise but this does
not mean that you will be rejected - it is your overall score that
counts
it is not a competition - you will be successful if you meet the
requirements
be yourself