Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Situational Judgement Test

1

Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Situational Judgment Tests

www.eutraining.eu

Presented By EU Training

EPSO Situational Judgment Tests:

Today’s Hosts

2

Today’s Trainer Robin Bott

Co-Host and Technical Support:

Lenke Szasz

Follow-up questions: EU Training Support [email protected]

ng.eu


StarterSession Overview

3

30-minute introduction (recorded)Theory-focused – no full questions to work outOverview of how SJTs workHow to approach questionsInsight into how SJT questions are constructed and how to prepareTips and tricksFollowed by a 1 hr “Pro Tips” session with - practice questions and Q&A opportunity.

44


20

30

Questions

Minutes

1.5≈

Designed to measure your approach to a situation – not how quickly you can understand complex information

• You cannot take anything into the exam room with you. • Everything you need will be provided.

Maximum Score40

Pass mark 24/40

Minutes per

question

5

What is an SJT?

How are they scored?

Competencies

Values

How to take the test

Tips and tricks

6

What is an SJT?

How are they scored?

Competencies

Values

How to take the test

Tips and tricks

What Is A SJT?

6

Situational Judgment: how do you ‘judge’ a situation

Looking for how you fit into the EU civil service’s ways of working

Present you with a scenario you might find yourself in…

…and four possible actions

Which response is most effective and which is least effective?

Two-way

Different from verbal reasoning

Example SJT Question

7

Please consider the situation, and then select what you feel is the most effective AND the least effective response or action from the four statements.

You are giving an important presentation at a busy conference, to a group of senior members when you realise your slides are not displaying properly. You are only about a quarter of the way through and have some difficult technical data that you wanted to present towards the end. There are several other significant presentations following on from yours.

A. Apologise and continue with the presentation, explaining that you will have to skim over some parts

B. Explain the situation and state that you will have to run the presentation another time

C. Suggest a short break while you attempt to fix your slides and try to restart the presentation once this is done

D. Apologise and continue with the presentation, taking extra time to explain the more complex information.

9

What Is A SJT?

How Are They Scored?

Competencies

Values

How To Take The Test

Tips and Tricks

10

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

11

ScoringYour most and least effective choices both count!

The responses to the situation will have

A Most Effective OptionA Middle OptionAnother Middle OptionA Least Effective Option… these will be presented in a random order

Correct answers are chosen by appropriate experts and employees within the EU

12

ScoringExample

In a one-to-one meeting, your Superior is giving you lots of negative feedback. Some of the feedback seems unfair and it is becoming upsetting. Pick the most and least effective answer.A. Shout at your Superior and tell her some of her faults too.

B. Ask if you can finish the meeting early as you are upset.

C. Continue the meeting but try not to take on more of the feedback.

D. Try to understand their feedback and then check your understanding with them

13

ScoringExample

In a one-to-one meeting, your Superior is giving you lots of negative feedback. Some of the feedback seems unfair and it is becoming upsetting. Pick the most and least effective answer.A. Shout at your Superior and tell her some of her faults too.



D. Try to understand their feedback and then check your understanding with them.

14

ScoringExample

In a one-to-one meeting, your Superior is giving you lots of negative feedback. Some of the feedback seems unfair and it is becoming upsetting. Pick the most and least effective answer.

0 points

0.5 points

0.5 points

1 point

Picking each answer as your “most effective” would be worth:

So in total, there is a maximum of 1 point for your “most effective” choice

A. Shout at your Superior and tell her some of her faults too.




15

ScoringExample


1 points

0.5 points

0.5 points

0 points

So in total, there is a maximum of 1 point for your “least effective” choice

Picking each answer as your “least effective” would be worth: A. Shout at your Superior and tell her some of her faults too.




16

SummarisingScoring point for most effective

point for least effectivepoints in total per question

= 0 – 2 + 0 – 1

0 – 1

You’ll get some marks just for not getting it completely wrong!

17

ScoringExample


You correctly highlighted this as your “least effective choice”: 1 point

You picked this as your “most effective choice”: 0.5 points

Total marks for question: 1.5 out of 2.

A. Shout at your Superior and tell her some of her faults too.




18

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

19

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

20

Competencies Clusters of behaviours that are considered important for

the workplace

Guide selection

Guide development

EPSO-specific… but also quite generic

8 EPSO competencies overall. The SJT looks at 5 of these.

21

EPSO SJTCompetencies

2222


Working with Others

2323


Working with Others

Analysis and Problem Solving

2424


Working with Others

Delivering Quality and Results


2525


Working with Others

Prioritising and Organising



2626


Working with Others

Resilience




2727


Working with Others

Resilience




8 EPSO competencies overall. The SJT looks at 5 of these

28

CompetenciesIn Detail

Competencies usually have pairs of “indicators”“Positive indicator”

“Negative indicator”What does GOOD look like?What does POOR look like?

These indicators help SJT writers create most and least effective behaviours

29

Example Competency Indicators

Negative Indicators Positive IndicatorsMakes incorrect prioritisation judgements Prioritises tasks appropriately

Fails to set realistic deadlines and milestones Sets realistic deadlines and milestones

Allows projects to continue without monitoring Monitors progressBecomes flustered and ineffective when plans need to change Adapts to changes in plans effectivelyWorks inefficiently or becomes overwhelmed with workload Manages own workload effectively

Fails to prepare in advance Conducts preparation in advance


30







“Let your team decide how to best achieve the goal so

as to empower them”

31







“Set up a project plan letting your team

know what you need from them and

when.”

32

Questions are often a mix of competencies

Try to spot the competencies measured by the situation and answer optionsOften a mixture of competencies per question and response optionWhat different competencies would each response option meet?Consider which of them would be weaker optionsSometimes you do not even need the question itself to spot the competencies

Competencies are a great guide… but not a fool-proof solution

33

Competency Set:

Working With OthersAnalysis and Problem SolvingDelivering Quality and ResultsPrioritising and OrganisingResilience

Positive indicators

What competencies does each answer option relate to?

You have been asked to lead a large project involving several of your colleagues. You have been given very little guidance?

A. Meet with everyone you are working with to identify an approach that works for everyone.

B. Set aside time to review the details of the project to ensure you have a clear understanding of what is needed.

C. Set clear guidelines on the outcome you expect and reinforce the need for everyone to work to their best.

D. Communicate clear guidelines to everyone so everyone knows the plan and what deadlines they are working towards.

E. Put in extra effort to make sure you are able to meet the project goals early so as you can remain composed throughout.

34

Competency Set:


Positive indicators








35

Competency Set:


Positive indicators








36

Competency Set:


Positive indicators








37

Competency Set:


Positive indicators








38

Competency Set:


Positive indicators








39

Competency Set:


Negative indicators



A. Demonstrate your independence by creating a plan to ensure you meet all your own goals.

B. Ask a more experienced colleague to summarise the main aims of the project, so you can focus on these.

C. Focus on meeting your key objectives quickly so as to remain efficient.

D. Prioritise your other tasks first and then when these are done start planning the project.

E. Ask your Superior to write an effective plan for you.

40

Competency Set:


Negative indicators








41

Competency Set:


Negative indicators








42

Competency Set:


Negative indicators








43

Competency Set:


Negative indicators








44

Competency Set:


Negative indicators








45

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

46

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

47

ValuesShared beliefs or ideals about what is desirable or undesirableImportant and enduringHave a major influence on behaviour and attitudeRelated to a business or organisation’s cultureOften less generic than competencies

Source: Code of Good Administrative Behaviour

48484848

Values Principles

49494949

Hierarchy

Values Principles

50505050

HierarchyLoyalty

Values Principles

51515151

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthority

Values Principles

525252

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthorityRules and Procedures

Values Principles

535353

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthorityRules and ProceduresEqual Opportunity

Values Principles

545454

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthorityRules and ProceduresEqual OpportunityQuality of Service

Values Principles

555555

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthorityRules and ProceduresEqual OpportunityQuality of ServicePublic Image

Values Principles

5656

HierarchyLoyaltyAuthorityRules and ProceduresEqual OpportunityQuality of ServicePublic ImageWork Atmosphere

Values Principles

5757


Commitment to EU and its citizens

Values Principles

5858


Commitment to EU and its citizensIntegrity

Values Principles

5959


Commitment to EU and its citizensIntegrityObjectivity

Values Principles

6060


Commitment to EU and its citizensIntegrityObjectivityRespect for others

Values Principles

6161


Commitment to EU and its citizensIntegrityObjectivityRespect for othersTransparency

Values Principles

62

Competencies and Values

You don’t need to memorise these

Understanding them will get you into the EU mind-set

In turn this helps you show your best side in SJTs as well as other EPSO assessments

Think about how they interact

Use both to guide your understanding of the best answer

63

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

64

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

65


Read through the question

Review the answer options

Think about how the answers relate to the competencies and values

66


Read through the question

Review the answer options

Think about how the answers relate to the competencies and values

Look for additional information in the question

67

Example SJT question Looking for additional key information

Please consider the situation, and then select what you feel is the most effective AND the least effective response or action from the four statements. You are giving an important presentation at a busy conference, to a group of senior members when you realise your slides are not displaying properly. You are only about a quarter of the way through and have some difficult technical data that you wanted to present towards the end. There are several other significant presentations following on from yours.

A. Apologise and continue with the presentation, explaining that you will have to skim over some parts.

B. Explain the situation and state that you will have to run the presentation another time.

C. Suggest a short break while you attempt to fix your slides and try to restart the presentation once this is done.


68

Example SJT question Looking for additional key information

Please consider the situation, and then select what you feel is the most effective AND the least effective response or action from the four statements. You are giving an important presentation at a busy conference, to a group of senior members when you realise your slides are not displaying properly. You are only about a quarter of the way through and have some difficult technical data that you wanted to present towards the end. There are several other significant presentations following on from yours.

A. Apologise and continue with the presentation, explaining that you will have to skim over some parts.

B. Explain the situation and state that you will have to run the presentation another time.

C. Suggest a short break while you attempt to fix your slides and try to restart the presentation once this is done.


69


Read through the questionReview the answer optionsThink about how the answers relate to the competencies and valuesLook for additional information in the questionConsider worst case implications

70

Example SJT question Consider worst case implications

Please consider the situation, and then select what you feel is the most effective AND the least effective response or action from the four statements. You are supervising a junior colleague who is working on a project over the next few months. He is a strong performer and is keen to work on the project alone.

A. Let them continue with the project on their own

B. Set up an early meeting to check he understands everything, then leave him to it

C. Set up regular meetings throughout the project to monitor his progress

D. Give clear guidance on what you expect and monitor the colleague closely

71



A. Let him continue with the project on his own




Risks the project going wrong at any point and you not knowing and so not

being able to help

72







Risks the project going wrong after a

few weeks, and you not

knowing and so not being able

to help

73







Will help you stay on top of

the project yourself without

stifling the colleague

74







May stifle your colleague and prevent them

from using their own

initiative and expertise

75

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

76

What Is A SJT?


Competencies

Values


Tips and Tricks

77

Think about competencies and values – how do the answers relateThink honestly about how you would respondThink about how the EU would want you to respond in a situationReview the information carefully… but try to go with your instinctsThink through outcomes of optionsDon’t be misled by the wording aloneLook for ‘weak’ answers (e.g. ‘desk research’, ‘ask someone else’)Practice

Tips and Tricks

Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Situational Judgment Test

Thank you for attending the webinar!

Following on from this theory based session is our

Pro Tips For The EPSO Situational Judgment Test Webinarwhere we put learning into practice

www.eutraining.eu78

Career

Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Situational Judgement Test