Sjt

[Lddex]

Just wanted to see what peoples thoughts are on these situation Judgement tests. It seems that more and more rail companies are using them to as a way to save time reading the applications.

I personal dislike them. I don't believe a test which some people have decided which answers are correct can inform a company who is the best candidate for the role. This was proved recently as my sister works as a manger for one of the larger supermarkets, and the store is running very well. She wants a change and there is no where to go within the company in the area so she applied for the manager of Aldi. She had to sit a SJT and failed it. She asked why and they said that the answers she gave showed she was not management material or good with dealing with people or problems. She's been a manger for 5 years and before that, assistant and supervisor. But Alidi used the SJT as a kind of sift f she had passed then she would have been invited to upload a CV and covering letter.

Ive sat a couple now, and while some have very clear answers, some don't. I've had a mix rating of pass and fails on them, but I've also thought I need to explain myself on why I am choosing this answer.

So just wanted to see if other people thought they were good, or that maybe the rail companies in their time saving are actually missing potentially very good candidates

 

[red2005]

kinda see your point but not all TOC's or companies in any industry have the same ideas on what makes a good manager or what makes good customer service! she may have applied to tesco and they may well have thought she was perfect!

there is a large luck of the draw element to these questions but these companies want people through the door who have the same ideas and values as themselves that's all mate it's nothing personal!.......maybe they are losing some good candidates but on the other side of things they see their recruitment methods as the best way to do things so the people getting through the system are probably the correct ones in their eyes and they wouldn't waste time thinking about who or what may have slipped through their fingers!

 

[Lddex]

Some good points red2005 and I understand what you say and I know why companies do them. I've always thought they were a waste of time and its just now that Aldi has just proved it in my eyes.

I some what think it should not be the first round in all cases. In terms of values of the company, you can train people and tell people how to act. I've had many jobs now where I wouldn't do half the things I get told to do. For example I worked in a shop and the policy was, any one who complained or returns an item you don't deal with it you get the supervisor or manager. Now if that was a question on the SJT "A customer returns an item what do you do? A) get your manager B) deal with it yourself C) tell them they can't return it. I would have answered B. Which in their eyes is wrong. I know that is simplifying it a lot, but if the whole means of these tests is to see if you speak the company jargon then its a waste of time, as that can be taught, especially in an industry that has some many rules and procedures that have to be followed. Plus they are ignoring peoples life experiences and work experiences. Like my sister, someone who has worked in a supermarket and worked her way up since school is not taken into account. Where some one who has no customer service experience or management experience could pass the SJT and be through to the next round.

 

[Sirgerbil]

SJE's/SJT's I am 50/50 on.

Usually the way they work is 2 answers are quite obviously a No no then the other 2 will be different by a tiny fraction. Both will be the "Correct" answer, but one of them will encompass the said company's values or vision.

I suppose if you take your time and think about the type of industry it applies to, you are more likely to pass it. However if you follow the instructions and input what comes naturally to you, it may not suit the said company. E.g Aldi may be looking for a much more customer focused person, whereas the railways look for someone who can adhere to strict rules and procedures.

In today's job market, I guess this is a way to whittle down thousands of applicants to something more manageable.

 

[387star]

Can you actually fail on the SJT during the driver assessment?

 

[SPADTrap]

Can you actually fail on the SJT during the driver assessment?

After seeing my results on paper - yes it is scored and there is a minimum by the looks of it!

 

[Sirgerbil]

Can you actually fail on the SJT during the driver assessment?

This was a matter of confusion at my assessment, but I believe they were marked.

 

[red2005]

Can you actually fail on the SJT during the driver assessment?

most definitely!!!!!!! once again this comes down to how many of your answers match the values and ideas of the company you are applying to! as someone said earlier you will have the 'obviously' wrong answers (if you have common sense) then it's in terms of what you think would be most or least helpful within the situation in question!

as the other chap said.......i am sure if you looked at the questions in terms of a railway environment in comparison to another industry the answer may become a lot more straight forward

as far as i was aware the only part of the assessments that had no impact in terms of passing or failing was the report writing (cartoon) section!.....even then i think i would just play it safe and go in with a 'everything is fail-able' attitude lol

 

[greatkingrat]

It depends what you are referring to.

The "Situational Judgement Exercise" is done by the OPC immediately before the Multi-Modal Interview. This can't be failed as such, and if you score badly on an area you can still pass if you do well in that area in the interview.

TOCs may have their own similar tests which can be failed, however any such failure would not count as one of your two strikes as it is not part of the national process.