Letters to Candidates and Parents
This page has suggested text for letters that outline the Morrisby Profile and the Morrisby Careers Questionnaire as part of a Careers Guidance programme.
By omitting the MCQ section, similar text may be used as notes to candidates undertaking the assessment as part of the selection process.
You may scroll down the page to view all the text or click on the appropriate client group.
We also produce the following information leaflets that many find helpful.
- 'It's Your Future'
A pre-test leaflet aimed at the younger Careers Guidance candidate. - 'Morrisby Profile - An Introduction'
A pre-test leaflet for adult Careers Guidance candidates. - 'Morrisby Profile - How it works'
A general after-test leaflet reviewing the various elements of the MP.
The leaflets are available on request, free of charge.
From a School to Parents & Guardians
Dear
In the Careers Department we interview every pupil to discuss their future. This interview is not the point at which decisions are made but rather the point at which all relevant information is collected together and reviewed with a professional adviser.
Our experience has shown that the more relevant information that is available, the better the interview and the better the final decision.
To this end we are offering parents the option of vocational guidance tests that aim to provide information about abilities, personality and interests. The tests, called the Morrisby Profile, are the leading vocational guidance tests available in the country and have been used by more than 200,000 people in the last three years.
The assessments are administered at school in normal teaching time by specially trained personnel. The Morrisby Profile is not like an exam. There is no pass or fail. Instead particular personal strengths can be identified and careers suggested that a person could do well and would enjoy. The results are forwarded to parents in the form of a detailed report.
The tests this year will take place on [date].
Your daughter/son should decide, in consultation with you, whether or not she/he wishes to take part. If you decide to opt for these assessments, please complete and return this form to me by....
Yours sincerely,
For Guidance Clients
Dear
You are scheduled to take your Morrisby guidance tests on [date] at [place] . The session will last for about three and a half hours and you should make certain that you have cancelled all your other commitments scheduled for the same time.
The assessment will provide you with a picture of your individual strengths and abilities. Unlike a school exam, you do not have to do any revision beforehand. You will also be reassured to know that nobody can fail a Morrisby assessment and many people do actually enjoy the session!.
The only thing you need to bring with you on the morning of the assessment is reading glasses, if you wear them and the completed interest inventory [see below for details]. Please try and arrive at the test session at least ten minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.
Before the test session you will need to do the interest inventory known as the MCQ. This is designed to ascertain what your occupational interests are and will identify the extent to which you are attracted towards, or dislike various occupations and types of work. It should take you about 40 minutes to do and can be done in your own time. It must be completed in dark coulour pen or pencil and brought with you to the test session.
Approximately three weeks after the assessment session you will receive a comprehensive report. This will describe your personal strengths, interests and aptitudes. The report, which is confidential, will also suggest a range of careers options for you that have been selected from an extensive database.
You will have the opportunity to discuss the contents of your report with you careers adviser. Details of the date and time of your interview will be given to you when your guidance report is returned to you.
If you have any further queries regarding your assessment, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
[*] The MCQ can also be completed in a group session. If this is what you are proposing to do, you should alter the text above accordingly and inform candidates where and when the questionnaire completion session is due to take place.
Job Applicants
Dear
Thank you for submitting your application to us. We would like to invite you to a preliminary interview and an assessment on [date] at [place].
We will be using this time as an opportunity to find out more about you, so that if your application is successful, we will be in a much better position to make sure that you get the most out of your employment with us.
The session will be in two parts; it will start at [time] when we will tell you a little bit about the Company and our training programmes. This will then be followed by the assessment session where we will be looking to find out where your strengths lie.
The session will last just over three hours and should finish at approximately [time]. It will then be followed by an interview. A shortlist of candidates will be invited to attend for a second interview one week later.
To help us assess the direction of your skills and abilities we are going to use the Morrisby Profile. The Profile has been successfully used over 40 years and combines a range of different paper and pencil tasks with an objective personality test. The Morrisby Profile is not an exam and candidates do not pass or fail. You do not need to do any revision and in fact you may be reassured to know that many people say that they enjoy the session!.
We are enclosing some practice questions so that you can see, in advance, the sorts of things you will be asked to do. These are also reproduced on the Morrisby Organisation's website (www.morrisby.com). Some background information for people about to do a Morrisby assessment as part of the selection process is enclosed with this letter.
The only other thing that you need to remember to bring with you for the test session is reading glasses, if you wear them. Everything else will be provided for you. Travel expenses will be reimbursed at the rate of [rate]. If in the meantime you have any queries, please contact [name].
I enclose a map and will look forward to meeting you on [date].
Yours sincerely,
About The Morrisby Assessment
These guidance notes are designed to give you some background information about the assessment that you will soon be taking.
The assessments you will be completing as part of the process have been designed by the Morrisby Organisation [www.morrisby.com], which is the country's leading supplier of vocational guidance services. Many tens of thousands of people have completed the tests.
*[The assessment consists of 2 elements; the Morrisby Profile and the Morrisby Careers Questionnaire.]
* Morrisby Careers Questionnaire [MCQ]
This looks at your interests under 3 broad headings [People, Information and Things] and your work preferences in terms of Who, [human surroundings] How, [work style] and Where [physical surroundings].
The questionnaire asks you to mark your level of interest in various types of work and occupations. Whilst some of the questions may not seem too relevant to you at the moment, you should find that the broad themes arising from your responses are helpful in clarifying which types of work are likely to be of greatest interest to you.
The Morrisby Profile
This provides a picture of your individual strengths and abilities. It involves a number of timed tests designed to measure a wide range of abilities. Apart from identifying how much ability you have, the results also show the types of ability you have (i.e. your relative strengths). They also give an indication of the way you apply your abilities.
The Profile involves a number of timed tests designed to measure a wide range of abilities. The results describe the types of ability that you have (i.e. relative strengths), as well as how much ability you show. They also give an indication of the way in which you apply your abilities.
The test session takes just over 3 hours including a short break in the middle. Here are some general pointers regarding the tests :
- All the tests are pencil and paper assessments, and you will be provided with all the materials (e.g. pencils, erasers, answer books and question books) that you will need.
- Test content varies and examples of the different types of questions can be also be found on The Morrisby Organisation's website - www.morrisby.com
- The tests are not really like school exams. Most people find that some of the tests are relatively easy but others are harder, depending on their individual abilities.
- Most of the tests have an example section so that you can get a clear understanding of what is involved before the test itself starts.
- Not everyone is expected to complete the tests in the time allowed.
Arriving at the Test Administration
When you arrive at the Test Administration, go straight to the room where the test session is being held.
Before the test session starts, please make sure that the Test Administrator is aware of any disability or special needs that you have. The Administrator also needs to know if you have an injury to your hands or wrists, or conditions such as arthritis.
Please be reassured that the test materials have been designed so that those who have colour-blindness are not disadvantaged. If you would benefit from answer books and question books with large print, please ensure that you advise your administrator well in advance of your assessment session so that these can be made available for you.
The Test Administrator will provide a general introduction to the test session as a whole and pass on any other important information. This is an ideal opportunity to ask any questions so that you fully understand what the tests will be about.
Following the general introduction, the Test Administrator will commence the first part of the test session. For each test, the Administrator will be reading instructions verbatim, so they probably will sound quite formal. Nonetheless, this ensures that everybody receives exactly the same information and no-one is given an unfair advantage in any way.
The Administrator will use a stopwatch to ensure that each test is timed accurately. A short comfort break is scheduled for the mid-point of the test session as a whole, after which the second half of the test session will commence.
What you can do to prepare
There are a number of things that you can do to prepare so that you are able to do your best on the day, such as:
- If you have a disability and need special arrangements to be made, contact the administrator in advance to discuss the best ways to meet your needs.
- Try to be well rested on your arrival for the assessment; leave plenty of time for your journey so that you can arrive relaxed and unruffled.
- You are going to be in the test session for quite a while so if coming by car, be sure you can park safely for more than 3 hours. Avoid a meter!.
- Make sure that you bring things that you might need (for example, reading glasses, hearing aid, inhaler, paper tissues). A watch may also be useful in order to keep an eye on time during the tests.
- Make use of the period before the tests start and the break to visit the toilet, get a drink, etc. as you will not be able to leave the test room once the tests have started.
- Do not be put off by the other candidates.
- Listen carefully to the instructions that you are given for each test, and follow them.
- Ask questions if you do not understand.
- Work carefully through any example questions to ensure that you are clear what is expected of you in each test.
- Keep a careful eye on the time to ensure that you work consistently through the test - remember, not everyone will reach the end of the test in the time allowed.
- Aim to work quickly but not so fast that you make unnecessary mistakes.
* The assessment results
You should have your results within 3 weeks from the date of your Morrisby assessment.
Your results are presented in a detailed report of typically 21 pages, which describes your personal strengths and aptitudes. The report suggests a range of career options selected for you from an extensive database of jobs.
Your report is confidential and you will have the opportunity to discuss its contents with your careers adviser. This is not the only information that you should use in your decision making process. The careers suggestions made in your report need to be considered alongside all other relevant information.
[* use the text when appropriate]
