Interview advice please - In Box Exercise????

[mattSV]

I've got an interview tomorrow with another division of the group that I have worked for for the last 18 years.

The good news is that I understand that the job I am going for is not being advertised, and they are not interviewing anyone else :D :D :D

I have been told that the format will be an 'Inbox exercise, with questions afterwards', followed by a structured interview.

The structured interview will be fine, however I have never undertaken an 'Inbox exercise'.

Anyone got any advice/experience RE Inbox Exercises? (apart from keeping your head down so you don't bang your head on the top of the box :lol: )

[fizzwheel]

You sure they dont want to you to demonstrate your skills with email ? :wink:

I've never heard of that kinda thing at an interview so I cant help. Good luck for tomrrow though.

[sharriso74]

Never heard of an inbox exercise did a web search and came up with this

http://www.boblucky.com/reflect/jan95.htm

[mattSV]

Never heard of an inbox exercise did a web search and came up with this

http://www.boblucky.com/reflect/jan95.htm

Cheers - that sort of helps!

[sharriso74]

Sorry forgot - good luck!

[Tara]

Good luck matt not had an inbox interview before but have done structured interviews

fingers crossed

[andyaikido]

No idea either but it sounds a lot more sensible than the group interview a mate had to go through:

He had to describe what animal he would like to be and why (for a job shelf-stacking at ASDA).

[jenni]

Good luck and remember to tell us all

[Ed]

No idea either but it sounds a lot more sensible than the group interview a mate had to go through:

He had to describe what animal he would like to be and why (for a job shelf-stacking at ASDA).

You mean 'commodity replenishment officer'

[northwind]

He had to describe what animal he would like to be and why (for a job shelf-stacking at ASDA).

Correct answer: "A giraffe- they can reach the top shelf easily, boosting my efficiency and saving valuable shelf-stacking time"

Incorrect answer: "A sloth. Or maybe a mussel."

I always get asked The Question: "Tell me about a time that you could have done better in your existing job" AIEEE! You have to admit to a flaw, but it can't be too big- but if you make it too small it's obvious you're being selective.

[Messie]

When I did it as part of management training the 'inbox exercise' was a heap of memos, tasks (big and small), complaints and staff issues etc. all sitting in your 'intray'. The task was to sort and prioritise and delegate all these as appropriate within a set amount of time. As far as I recall there were three piles to sort the stuff into, urgent, important and delegate (my I might have remembered these wrongly).

Basically they want to see your ability to manage workload, perhaps under stress and to be able to pass on stuff that doesn't belong to you.

HTH. Good luck with the interview!

[mattSV]

3 weeks after the interview and I have still not heard anything.

The interview and exercise all went very well.

I was told that I would have an answer within 10 days.

Just phoned to chase them to be told that the Resource Manager and Director are both on annual leave until 29th August and I will need to wait until then to find out.

Totally pi55ed off now

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[TSM]

When I did it as part of management training the 'inbox exercise' was a heap of memos, tasks (big and small), complaints and staff issues etc. all sitting in your 'intray'. The task was to sort and prioritise and delegate all these as appropriate within a set amount of time. As far as I recall there were three piles to sort the stuff into, urgent, important and delegate (my I might have remembered these wrongly).

Basically they want to see your ability to manage workload, perhaps under stress and to be able to pass on stuff that doesn't belong to you.

HTH. Good luck with the interview!

I would just move it all to deligate, its easier. Now thats the wrong thing to do i guess :roll:

[Warthog]

Almost every single interview I have been to they have taken ages to get back to me, and been slow or non-existant in replying! Its so rude and tottaly annoying.