2010_pmf_assess_prep_guide_01-28-11_final

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PMF Assessment Preparation Guide Page 1 of 5 Updated: 01-28-2011

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) ProgramAssessment Preparation Guide

Revision History

Revision Date: Revision Summary:

01-27-2011 Under the Assessment Center section, revised description of day from an 8-hour day to an 8 to 10-hour day in regards to the length of time the in-person assessment is administered and emphasizes how

semi-finalists should adjust their travel plans accordingly. In addition, emphasized how semi-finalistsshould review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the PMF website in regards to lost notices,rescheduling, and inclement weather.

Introduction:This Assessment Preparation Guide is intended for applicants to the PMF Program who have been nominatedby their school's Nomination Official and covers the Programs assessment process. After the applicationprocess, those applicants found eligible and successfully nominated are referred to nominees. Nominees areinvited to participate in the first phase of the assessment process, the un-proctored, timed on-line assessment.Based on scores, semi-finalists will be selected and invited to the second phase of the assessment process, theproctored in-person assessment.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers both phases of the assessment process. The on-line assessment consists of a Situational Judgment Assessment, Life Experience Assessment, and a WritingSample. This assessment is designed to assess competencies that are critical to success in the PMF position.This guide is designed to familiarize you with the on-line assessment process and its key features so that you:

Know what to expect on the assessment and are prepared to do your best. Have a better chance of success. Can take the PMF On-line Assessment feeling more confident and at ease.

The second phase of the PMF Programs assessment process is a proctored in-person assessment, alsoreferred to as the Assessment Center. The proctored Assessment Center puts semi-finalists through a day-longassessment which consists of three components: individual presentation, group exercise, and a writingexercise. Your performance is observed by a three-person panel. Finalists will be identified based on their

performance at the Assessment Center. More detailed information regarding the Assessment Center begins onpage 4 of this guide.

On-Line Assessment Preparation:The following is for nominees preparing for the on-line assessment.

Why OPM Assesses Potential PMFsThe PMF On-line Assessment provides a screening process on job-related criteria and allows semi-finalists tocompete in the PMF In-person Assessment. PMFs serve in a broad range of positions that will prepare them tobe leaders of tomorrow. Certain skills and abilities like problem solving, adaptability, integrity, servicemotivation, relating to others, and writing are needed to perform well in these positions. The PMF On-lineAssessment helps identify individuals with important job-related abilities and personal characteristics.

DISCLAIMERThe sample questions provided are neither practice assessments, nor simulations of actual assessment conditions forthe PMF On-line Assessment. However, they do resemble the actual assessments in style and format. Completingthe sample questions does not ensure an increase in yourassessment score or in your aptitude to perform work as aPresidential Management Fellow. Neither does attending workshops nor studying the exam techniques.


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General Test-Taking Tips1. Get a good nights sleep. To be rested and prepared, it is important to get adequate sleep the night

before you take the assessment.2. Eat a light, nutritious meal. Although you may be a bit nervous before taking the assessment, it is

important to eat a light and nutritious meal. By doing so, you will increase your energy level.3. Pay careful attention to all directions before beginning.4. Answer the easier questions first. Skip questions you find to be very difficult and come back to them

later.

5. For each question, read the entire question and all response options carefully before deciding upon ananswer.

6. If you do not know the answer to a question, eliminate the response options that you know to beincorrect or probably incorrect and then guess from the remaining response options.

7. If you finish before time is up in a given assessment part, go back and check your answers.8. Ignore any patterns of As, Bs, Cs, Ds, or Es. These correct answer positions are chosen randomly

and there is no way to improve your chances by guessing based on response patterns.

Contents of the PMF On-line AssessmentThere are three parts of the PMF On-line Assessment: Situational Judgment, Life Experience, and Writing.Each assessment is timed. The table below provides theapproximatenumber of items and time allowed foreach assessment part.

Assessment Part Number of Items Time AllowedA. Situational Judgment 30 - 48 30 - 40 minutes

B. Life Experience 125 45 minutesC. Writing N/A 10 - 15 minutes

Preparing for the PMF On-line AssessmentDescriptions for each assessment part, including instructions and sample questions are described in thesections that follow.

Part A. Situational Judgment AssessmentThe Situational Judgment Assessment requires you to read through a series of scenarios relevant to PMF work.The questions place you in realistic situations that you are likely to encounter as a PMF. Through a series of

multiple choice questions youll be asked to select an option based on how you would likely respond or leastlikely respond in each situation. This section of the preparation guide will provide you with useful informationabout how to do your best on the Situational Judgment Assessment.Questions in the Situational Judgment section draw primarily on your experiences in working with and relating toothers in a work setting. In each of the questions in this section, you are asked to indicate how you wouldrespond in a given situation. If you are not currently in a work group, you can answer the questions based onexperiences you may have had in previous jobs or in school, social, athletic, or volunteer organizations.Part A. Situational Judgment Sample QuestionsFour sample questions are provided below to give you an idea of the types of questions you will encounter whencompleting the Situational Judgment Assessment.

Directions: In each of the following situations, you are asked to indicate how you would respond. No specialtraining or experience is required to answer these questions. Identify from the response options the one thatbest represents how you would handle the situation. Select the response that is closest to how you wouldactually handle the situation, not the response that you think others might select or the response that you thinkis expected.Sample Question 1. You are a member of a project team in your office. During a project meeting a colleaguegives you a task that you do not feel qualified or trained to handle. Which of the following actions are you mostlikely to take?


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A) Complete the task as best you can.B) Complain to your supervisor.C) Ask someone in the office who knows how to do the task to help you.D) Explain to the colleague that you do not feel qualified to work on the task and you would prefer that the

task be given to someone else.

Sample Question 2. You are a member of a project team in your office. During a project meeting a colleaguegives you a task that you do not feel qualified or trained to handle. Which of the following actions are you least

likely to take?A) Complete the task as best you can.B) Complain to your supervisor.C) Ask someone in the office who knows how to do the task to help you.D) Explain to the colleague that you do not feel qualified to work on the task and you would prefer that the

task be given to someone else.

Sample Question 3. One of your customers has arrived at your office and wishes to speak with yoursupervisor, who is not at her desk right now. The customer is frustrated because she has left several messageson your supervisors voice-mail in the past week and has not received a call in return. You know that yoursupervisor is attending a meeting that will last for at least another hour. Which of the following actions are youmost likely to take?

A) Find out what the customer needs and interrupt the meeting.B) Find out what the customer needs and assure the caller that your supervisor will get the message.C) Tell the customer that your supervisor is not available.D) Ask the customer if someone else in the office can help her.

Sample Question 4. One of your customers has arrived at your office and wishes to speak with yoursupervisor, who is not at her desk right now. The customer is frustrated because she has left several messageson your supervisors voice-mail in the past week and has not received a call in return. You know that yoursupervisor is attending a meeting that will last for at least another hour. Which of the following actions are youleast likely to take?

A) Find out what the customer needs and interrupt the meeting.

B) Find out what the customer needs and assure the caller that your supervisor will get the message.C) Tell the customer that the manager is not available.D) Ask the customer if someone else in the office can help her.

Part B. Life Experience Assessment

The Life Experience Assessment contains questions involving work- and education-related experiences. In thisassessment you will be instructed to select one answer from among the alternatives presented. Somequestions will ask you to consider your experience in working with and relating to others in a work setting. If youare not currently employed then you will be instructed to answer questions based on experiences you may havehad in previous jobs, or in your academic pursuits. No special training or experience is required to answer thesequestions.When completing this assessment, remember:

Do not skip questions; it is in your best interest to answer every question. A response of I dont know means that you would expect the other person not to know or to have no

basis for making a judgment if asked to describe you. The term peer refers to co-workers, classmates, or other close associates.

Please note that your responses are subject to verification and deliberate attempts to falsify information may begrounds for not being selected or for being dismissed after beginning work.


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Part B. Life Experience Sample QuestionsTwo sample questions are provided below to give you an idea of the type of questions you will encounter whencompleting the Life Experience Assessment.Sample Question 1. In the past when I have given a speech or presentation, I was likely to have preparedahead of time:

A) much less than others didB) less than others didC) about the same as others didD) more than others didE) much more than others did

Sample Question 2. When working as a member of a team, I prefer to:

A) do less complex tasksB) keep a low profileC) always take the leadD) take on challenging tasks but not take the leadE) take the lead at times

Note: There are no correct responses listed for theSituational Judgment andLife Experiencesample questionsbecause answers to these questions will depend on your individual experiences, preferences, and opinions.

Part C. Writing SampleThe Writing Sample requires you to provide a written response based on a question or topic provided to you inthe assessment. This is a very straightforward assessment that will require you to simply type a writtenresponse to an open-ended question or prompt. Superior written communication skills are critical for being aneffective leader or manager. Accordingly, the writing sample measures your ability to communicate in writing.The writing sample will be used to measure your ability to communicate an appropriate message in writing,

organization of content in a clear and appropriate manner, and proper grammar usage.

Part C. Example of Writing SampleAn example of the kind of question or prompt you will encounter when completing the Writing Sample isprovided below.Sample Question. The PMF Program provides many potential opportunities and challenges for individualsinterested in working for the Federal Government. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a career inpublic service.

The Assessment Center:Based on the preference you selected during the application process, you will be invited to one of the four

identified locations for the Assessment Centers as follows:

Atlanta, GA

Chicago, IL

San Francisco, CA

Washington, DCThe Assessment Center will take place during an 8 to10-hour day in the specified locations. Semi-finalistsshould adjust their travel plans accordingly. You will participate in three activities: an individual presentation,group exercise, and a writing exercise. You will have 25 minutes to prepare for the individual presentation. Theindividual oral presentation will last a total of 5 minutes. Your group exercise will last approximately 30 minutes.


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The writing exercise will take 45 minutes. You will complete the writing exercise on a laptop computer using abasic word processor without spelling or grammar checking features. You may bring along a pocket(paperback) dictionary for your use during the writing exercise. Due to the number of semi-finalists participatingin the Assessment Center, a full day is needed to ensure all semi-finalists participate in each activity.The Assessment Center panels will be composed of three Federal agency representatives. These panelmembers are trained PMF assessors. You will be evaluated on the following dimensions during the threecomponents of the Assessment Center:

Individual Presentation:

Oral Communication

Problem SolvingGroup Discussion:

Interpersonal Skills

Oral Communication

Problem SolvingWriting Exercise:

Written Communication

Service MotivationYour schedule will include sufficient time for breaks during the day, including time for lunch, while other semi-finalists are working through their exercises. Although the day may include some down time for you, thisscheduling is necessary to maintain test security during the course of the day, and to complete all semi-finalistassessments in time for Federal Agencies to have a list of Finalists from which to make job offers in the spring.You may bring reading materials (school work or leisure) to occupy your time during the day. The AssessmentCenter will conclude in the late afternoon.You will be responsible for your travel expenses to attend the Assessment Center. Semi-finalists will receive theTest Admission Notice approximately two weeks prior to their scheduled Assessment Center and will beginpromptly at the time stated in the Test Admission Notice. Late arrivalscannot be admitted and stand-bys arenot allowed.

If the Federal Government closes for any reason (e.g., inclement weather) the Assessment Center will also beclosed. You will receive further guidance via email (from [email protected]) on when the Assessment Centerreopens and when your in-person assessment is rescheduled. You are responsible for monitoring any emailcommunications regarding the in-person assessment. Semi-finalists should review the Frequently AskedQuestions (FAQs) found under the Become a PMF section on the PMF website. Specifically, FAQ# 21 is inregards to lost notices and how to reschedule. FAQ# 23 is in regards to inclement weather.Applicants who requested special accommodations for the in-person assessment and have been adjudicated,have already been informed on how their in-person assessment will be conducted.You will be notified of your finalist status by late March 2011. The PMF Class of 2011 Finalists Job Fair will beheld in Washington, DC, in mid/late-April 2011. Additional information about the Job Fair will be posted to thePMF website sometime in March 2011. Please note that dates are subject to change. All applicants should

regularly check the PMF website for any updates; specifically, the News section from the homepage.Given the variety of employment opportunities offered to graduate students, we are happy that you have placedthe Federal Government among the potential employers for whom you may choose to work. As the FederalGovernment strives to meet the challenges of managing and administering sound public policies and programs,the opportunities available to PMFs are extraordinary. The PMF Program is a unique and rewarding beginningto a public service career.We welcome your interest in the PMF Program and wish you well in the assessment process. You should beaware that the program which you are applying is based on rigorous standards and that the selection process ishighly competitive.

2010_pmf_assess_prep_guide_01-28-11_final

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