School interview - in tray exercise

[Guest]

I have a school Finance Officer and admin interview next week.

On top of a panel interview I have to do an in tray exercise. Any suggestions of what this would be - assuming it would be a basic
s of a letter and spreadsheet. Any suggestions welcome

[FlorayG]

One I did once included a spelling and grammar check - don't rely on the PC spellcheck it won't pick up on 'there' when it should be 'their'

Another one was to write a polite 'no, thank you' reply to an offer of goods or services; also I had one to invite somebody to interview and things that had to be included in the letter

[hideinpockets]

A tray exercise is usually when you get a “tray of documents” and you have to show how’d you’d deal with and prioritise them. ☺️ (That’s usually what they are anyway)

[Mickie]

The ones I done mainly want to to prioritise stuff and say what you’d do with it. They usually have at least one item which they want a response to either a letter of spreadsheet. I’d assume if there is a finance element to the role there will be at least some of that in the exercise

[ClaireNJ]

No advice about question, but good luck

[Abbysmum]

I had to do this at my interview I can't remember the specifics as it was a few years back but what I do remember is having a list of things and asking how I would prioritise them. I think one was glass from a broken window, a teacher calling in sick and I said something like depending where the glass was I'd get the caretaker on it straight away if it was in a classroom, get on to the supply agency to get a teacher etc. Basically working in a school office is a constant juggling act! Good luck

[Princess Alison]

Originally Posted by hideinpockets

A tray exercise is usually when you get a “tray of documents” and you have to show how’d you’d deal with and prioritise them. ☺️ (That’s usually what they are anyway)

See more...

Yes it is exactly this. I had one for a job at a local authority many years ago. I went through each piece and had to write somewhere - can’t recal the exact logistics - what I’d do with it.

So for instance:

- a memo from secretary saying someone important had called - meant prioritising a call back to them. Eg call from finance director?
- Letter from SEN - assess importance and deal with that day.
- advert from Sage selling a new accounts package - probably bin!
- letter from parent with cheque for school trip - add to school trip file as received and cheque to be banked


That sort of thing.

Don’t forget to throw things out that aren’t important!

[deeley]

Yes it will
Be priorisiting and why those choices

Make sure safeguarding is always up top

[Guest]

Thanks everyone. I have a list of things now to work on and come up with a plan in my head. This is my 3rd school interview for different jobs, beaten into 2nd place twice by candidate with school experience already. Trouble is no school would ever let anyone have access to the office, records etc who isn't already a member of staff, DBS checked and up to date on Safeguarding. How can you get experience if no one will give you a chance. Hoping this one will be better as more finance than admin looking at job description.

[Bellasmummy]

I’m a school finance Officer, my in tray exercise included correcting a spreadsheet that contained errors, creating a mail merge document and correcting a letter with formatting and spelling/grammar issues.

Good luck