Excel in your e-tray exercise

E-tray exercises are designed by employers to put you in the driving seat; they are commonly used at assessment centres to help the recruiter predict how a candidate might perform in the workplace. The aim of the exercise is to simulate a ‘day in the life’ of the job holder. You will be asked to review a dossier of information from a variety of sources relating to a business situation. You are required to read through the information, prioritise the tasks and explain the action which needs to be taken.

Skills tested include adaptability, prioritisation, influencing and problem solving.

Top tips for e-tray exercises

Keep an eye on the time available To be successful in the e-tray exercise you must manage your time well. You will have limited time to digest, prioritise and present the information to the assessor. Don’t panic! The assessor is aware of how much time you have and will take this into consideration. They are interested in how you prioritise information and organise your time. TOP TIP: Wear a watch or make sure a wall clock is in easy view so you can keep track of the time available.

Read through the information carefully
Don't be tempted to rush in and skim over the dossier of information. You need to build your foundations first, and you can only do this by taking some time to read everything and make sure you understand what you have been presented with.
TOP TIP: Split your allocated time into sections. Spend time understanding the task and reading all of the information you are given.

Make notes as you go
Jot down any ideas that come to your mind while you are reading through the information, as this can help you when you come to organising your thoughts and presenting back to the assessor.
TOP TIP: Have a pen and notebook to hand so you can make notes. Alternatively, you could use a highlighting feature on your computer or device to highlight any information you see as particularly important.

Be clear and confident in the actions you decide on When you present back to your assessor, convey the information in a logical and coherent format. You have made these decisions as if you were in the role, so keep the same confidence when you explain your actions to the assessor. TOP TIP: Trust your convictions and present in an assured manner.

So, there you are, our e-tray exercise top tips that will help you complete this task with confidence.