SELECTION EVENTS
What will a selection event consist of?
Once you have been invited for interview it is recommended that you ask what to expect on the day so that you can prepare yourself. We can advise you on what type of exercise you will be doing and how you can prepare for it. However, they will be able to advise you on the type of test that you will be taking along with explaining how the day is going to work and what preparation you can do in advance if any.
If you have been invited via an agency please ask them to find this information out on your behalf.
Exercises can include psychometric tests, role plays, in-trays, presentations, group discussions, personality questionnaires and case studies. See below for more information:
Verbal tests
You will be asked to read a paragraph or section of text and to evaluate a number of statements, each time answering 'true', 'false' or 'cannot say'.
We use these tests because they have been proven to be a reliable indicator of how people will perform in the future. Each candidate's results are compared to a group of people of a similar age and experience level. So it's not just about how many questions a person gets right but about how well they do compared to their peer group. Where possible we send out practice tests beforehand or encourage people to try the test on-line (at www.shldirect.com).
Numerical tests
The most common numerical tests assess your ability to understand data presented in tables and graphs. These tests will highlight how well you work under pressure, while encouraging you to work quickly and accurately. Again, where possible, we send out practice tests before hand or encourage people to try the test on-line (at www.shldirect.com).
Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ)
Unlike the verbal and numerical tests, the personality test does not come with right and wrong answers. This test is designed to identify someone's way of working, covering behavioural traits such as persuasiveness and decision-making style. You will typically be asked to describe how you would behave in a given situation by choosing from a number of statements.
Role Plays
Within a Role Play scenario you will take on one role and the assessor the other to determine how you would deal with a job related situation.
Group Exercises
Group exercises are an excellent way of assessing whether you perform well in a team environment. They test your ability to be assertive and proactive without being dominating; to listen as well as contribute and to focus on the task in hand.
Presentations
Presentation briefs can be given to you prior to the interview to prepare in advance, thus saving time on the day. Alternatively the brief can be given on the day depending on the nature of the task. The presentation will be made to one or more assessors who will look for evidence of clear communication skills, effective visuals and persuasive arguments.
In-tray
These types of exercises are designed to test your ability to make decisions and prioritise workload under pressure of time. They typically consist of arranging letters, memos, meeting arrangements, travel requirements etc and then discussing your decisions with the interviewer. They're a particularly effective way of bringing a role to life.
Case Studies
Case studies present you with a business scenario, and will usually require an analysis and recommendations for a given situation. You may be asked to present your findings, decisions and recommendations in the form of a presentation, and skills measured often include data analysis, decision making, and influencing.
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