To assess a wider range of work behaviours, we recommend that the SJT solution contains three different tasks (from a bank of over 50).

Completion of the three tasks takes between 20 and 45 minutes to complete (depending on the level). Candidates are asked to judge the appropriateness of a series of responses. An example of each task is outlined below.

IRIS SJTs for administrative, customer service and sales staff:

• Task 1 - Working on a process
• Task 2 - Supporting staff
• Task 3 - Client interaction
• Task 4 - Sales (under development)

IRIS SJTs for graduates, junior managers and sales managers:

• Task 1 - Dealing with a mechanistic process
• Task 2 - Dealing with an organic or evolving process
• Task 3 - Innovation and change processes
• Task 4 - Sales (under development)

IRIS SJTs for administrative, customer service and sales employees: 

Task 1 - Working on a Process

The candidate works for a financial service company and takes on the role of a Loans Officer. In a team, the candidate is expected to deal with mortgage and other loan applications. However, the department has been short-staffed for three months. This requires the candidate to make decisions based in a stressful, overworked environment. The exercise introduces the candidate to situations such as dealing with relationships at work and prioritising workload.

Task 2 - Supporting Staff

The candidate works for a company that provides training services to the tourism industry. The candidate is responsible for taking bookings for courses, preparing the training materials and the information packs for the people being trained. This exercise requires the candidate to face situations that involve customer complaints, dealing with managers and fellow colleagues and managing their time in a busy working environment.

Task 3 - Client Interaction

The candidate works as a customer service agent in a commercial information agency. They are part of a team that respond to queries and complaints from the public. The candidate is managed by a Section Supervisor that is very keen on improving speed and quality in performance. This exercise requires the candidate to deal with customer complaints about an untrue TV report through face-to-face and phone call interaction.

Back to task list

IRIS SJTs for graduates, junior managers and sales managers:

Task 1 - Dealing with a Mechanistic Process

The candidate is the manager of the processing department of a financial services company that involves managing 38 staff. The staff are expected to deal with applications and queries relating to both mortgages and other loans. This exercise requires the candidate to make decisions based on the managing of staff, reducing numbers due to a recruitment freeze and developing strategies to improve services.

Task 2 - Dealing with an Organic or Evolving Process

The candidate works for a large organisation that produces computer software as well as the manual on how to use this software. The candidate has recently become a manager of a small team of four that are expected to send out updates of the manuals to a wide range of users and collect feedback. The exercise places the candidate in a position where staff morale is low and in situations where they may need to motivate team members, deal with their levels of performance and develop improvement strategies.

Task 3 - Innovation and Change Process

The candidate assumes the role of a Junior Manager of the Customer Discount Section in a national and international supplier of flooring materials. The candidate manages a small team of three administrative staff whose main activity is to operate a discount scheme. One of the tasks the exercise requires the candidate to carry out is to assess the value of whether a new agreement may benefit or cause harm to the company. It also forces the candidate to make decisions based on change and to consider the effect the new agreement may have on the team.

Back to task list

Click here for an example of an IRIS item

We are also able to design customised tests and scoring according to role and organisational context. 

For more information on IRIS Situational Judgement Tests by Pearson Assessment please contact IRIS@pearson.com.