The reason why they are still so popular is because they provide valuable information for your training. This is especially true for those who need to manage their time and be honest about how they feel about the real world. They are also incredibly effective at spotting how you are going to handle the mundane aspects of university life, such as prioritising your workload and how you’re going to prioritise your courses and exams. Their popularity with college recruiters means that it’s vital you know how in-tray exercises operate and what they assess.
It is also likely that you won’t face any problem in completing the in-tray exercises. Most of them are straightforward and shouldn’t present any major problems. Some may be harder than others however and that is something you should always consider before starting the process. You should always give yourself plenty of time and work out how you’re going to complete the tests.
Another reason why in-tray exercises are popular comes from how they can save a lot of money. This is particularly true for freshers who aren’t earning much at university. Some students even find that they save more after leaving university because they can then pay for basic living costs. Apart from paying for accommodation, food and utilities, they will likely also have to pay for driving on campus or student transport. These in-tray exercises can be a valuable way to fund your education. However, don’t expect them to provide you with all of the funding you need – it will depend on a variety of factors including how good you do at your exams and what subjects you choose to study.
One in-tray exercise tip concerns how to fit in all of your social events when you are managing your time and work. One of the biggest in-tray exercises you can do is to prioritise your social events when you’re working. This means that you don’t spend hours upon hours answering emails or organising your schedule but rather just tackle the most important social events you can at the same time. If you want to enjoy your free time and still get those in-tray exercises done, this is the best solution.
You can use an in-tray exercise to make notes about what you do during your day so that the assessor can see how well you manage your time and work. You can also use this as a way to organise your work and reduce the chances of you procrastinating and not getting things done that are crucial to your career. For example, if you find that you spend eight hours in meetings, you can organise your in-tray to reflect this. This can be used to help you organise your day and ensure that it flows well.
Another popular way to use in-tray exercises is to create a fictional organisation for yourself. Take an objective view of your job and how successful you are at it. Ask yourself questions such as “What would I do if this were my ideal day?” and “What would make me feel like this is my happiest hour?”
These are just a small sample of the uses these can have. Using in-tray exercises is incredibly flexible and will give you a chance to reflect on what you do well and what you need to improve on. It is a great way to keep your mind healthy and free from the pressures of pressure-hunts! So whether you need some help to improve on a few key competencies, or you want to make a very realistic fictional organisation, in-tray exercises can be a useful and creative way to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.