Group interviews can be a daunting part of the hiring process, but they’re a good opportunity for you to show your interpersonal and teamwork skills. For employers, they’re useful for seeing your collaboration style and gauging your confidence around new people.
Group interviews can also be intimidating. Even if you do well in a one-on-one setting, group interviews often present additional challenges that can trip you up. Organizations are increasingly using these interviews, as they are efficient and can give them an idea of how a candidate works in a team setting. While they can tell employers a great deal about their candidates, they often put applicants on the spot and present unique pressures.
Understanding how group interviews work and exactly what employers are looking for will help you better prepare. And if you prepare well enough, you can make an excellent impression.
What is a Group Interview?
A group interview is a type of job interview in which multiple applicants are interviewed simultaneously. They can take various forms, such as discussion-based group interviews, presentations, and so on.
Group interviews are commonly used in the retail and hospitality industries to recruit multiple applicants simultaneously. However, they’re becoming popular in other fields too. Not only can they help to save time for interviewers, but they also allow employers to easily evaluate an applicant’s interpersonal skills, teamwork abilities, and how they perform in a group setting.
How to prepare for a group interview
How do you best prepare for a group interview? You can never be 100% certain of what a group interview will entail, but there are general situations and questions you can prepare for.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your next group interview.
- Arrive Ahead of Time
Your behaviour in a group interview is being observed from the moment you enter the room. By arriving early, you give yourself time to regain your composure and introduce yourself to fellow applicants. Not only does this interaction highlight your ability to network, but it will also come in handy if you are given a problem to solve as a group. Being able to refer to other applicants by name reinforces your interpersonal skills. It may come as a surprise to see other applicants gathered for the interview but keep your cool and don’t let it show. Chances are you will face plenty of surprises on the job, and you need to demonstrate you can handle any situation with a professional approach.
- Be Prepared
In a group interview setting, you may be working with multiple interviewers, multiple interviewees, or both. Even though the dynamic is different, many of the skills you need to ace a one-on-one interview apply here. The group interview will likely start with the employer asking people in the group to introduce themselves. Having a response prepared can help with a good delivery. Aim to be confident, highlight your skills and experience. Exude positivity and pleasantness, speak clearly and loudly, and be confident and respectful. Be aware of your body language, make sure you are open and attentive at all times. One of the main elements that trips people up in a group interview is not being mentally prepared to bring these skills into a group setting. Stay focused and you’ll do fine.
- Learn to Listen and Observe
In a group interview that involves problem-solving, you need to be able to build on the conversation, and that’s only possible if you actively listen to the responses of other applicants rather than concentrating on what you will say next. A group interview is not the place to aggressively interrupt when others are speaking, so if a great idea pops into your head jot it down first. Showing that you are a good listener can make all the difference. This shows that you work well in a team and can collaborate well. It also helps you avoid repeating someone else’s answer because you weren’t paying attention, which is a negative group interview mistake. For instance, when someone introduces themselves, concentrate on listening to their name and key background skills.
- Speak With Confidence
During group interviews, you need to be very aware of the time you have to speak. While you need to listen, make sure you are also speaking up when given the opportunity. In a stressful environment, it can be easy to let bad habits creep in, like trailing off mid-sentence or punctuating sentences with “you know” or “like”. Be concise and meaningful with your words, be mindful of how you speak, and be careful of controlling the conversation in a possessive manner, doing this can leave the wrong impression and end your hopes of landing the job. It may seem counterintuitive but also acknowledging the views of fellow applicants and either building on their ideas or explaining why you would suggest an alternative will highlight your interpersonal skills. Note that in group interviews, words are your currency. Make good investments by being clear and thoughtful. The more you say in the least amount of space, the bigger impression you can make.
Group interviews can be a great opportunity to show how well you collaborate and interact with others. They give you a chance to get a feel for the role and the hiring company without the pressure of a one-on-one interview. While it’s natural to be a little nervous, be yourself, be confident that you are the right candidate for the job. Don’t focus on beating the other applicants, but let your skills and experience show and speak for themselves. This will help you land the perfect job, no matter what kind of interview you face along the way.