How do you provide all the evidence the assessors need?

Whether completing an ITOP/ ADC Stage 1 exercise, an ADC in-basket, writing an application form or giving an answer at an interview, my advice is the same - show your working out!

Let me explain. How many times in school did you get the wrong answer to a maths conundrum, only to receive credit because you showed that although your final calculation was incorrect, you were on the right track? So how did the teachers know this? Because you showed your ‘workings out’. They could see that you had the right idea, and that your answer wasn’t just plucked out of thin air.

The ‘working out’ part is the same for any of the above activities. Of course, it applies literally to any tasks which do involve calculations. But you can also apply it more broadly.

For instance, which answer is going to tell your assessors more about your thought processes and rationale of the following two?

‘I will develop management skills’

Or

‘I will develop management skills because there seems to be a lack of trust and communication between managers and staff.’

For every conclusion you draw, there is a thought process that led you there. You evaluated evidence, you worked out what was needed, and you determined which action, possibly out of 2 or 3, was most suitable. The problem is, generally it is only the final conclusion that makes it onto the page or that you choose to discuss. All evidence of how and why you reached your conclusion remains hidden to the assessor, and therefore you can’t be given credit for it.

So remember, the end point is not always the only relevant part. A great deal of evidence of how effective you are is demonstrated through the journey. Make sure you don’t miss this opportunity.

Not sure how well you do this?

Try an on-line practice exercise and find out exactly how effective your approach really is.