A job interview can be tricky at the best of times, but when it comes to preparing for a group interview, it’s important to remember that your task hasn’t changed. You still have to stand out as the best person for the job. The only difference is that you now have to do it in front of other people and some of those people are now sitting beside you.
There are a number of reasons why employers might conduct group interviews, but the most common reason is that group interviews can save time and speed up the hiring process. A slow hiring process can cost employers valuable talent, so if they have a large list of potentially good candidates that they need to whittle down, they might deem a group job interview the best approach.
Group interviews can also come into play when there are multiple positions up for grabs, not only for the time-saving benefit but also to quickly spot team players and leadership qualities in candidates who are being interviewed side by side. While they’re not as common as one-to-one interviews, they do happen and can feel like a curveball if you’re unprepared. How should I interact with the other candidates? What are the hiring managers looking for? Don’t worry, check out the infographic below and read on to check out our top tips when preparing for a group interview.
‘Tell me about yourself’ can be a tough question in a regular one-to-one interview, but in a group interview it has to be even more concise. Your introduction or ‘icebreaker’ in a group interview more closely resembles an elevator pitch rather than a casual conversation between you and your interviewer. You are essentially introducing yourself to the interviewers and the other candidates.
Prepare your intro in advance of your interview. Make sure it’s short, interesting and valuable – make sure it shows what you bring to the table within 30-60 seconds. Once you’ve written it, practise it plenty before heading to your interview.
We always tell you about the importance of arriving for your interview on time, but in a group interview scenario, being there early can be hugely beneficial. For a start, you’ll more than likely be sitting with the other candidates with which you’re about to interview. This can give you time to familiarise yourself with who you’ll be sitting beside before you’re essentially put into competition with one another.
Another good idea for when you do arrive early and are waiting with the other candidates is to chat with them. It can feel quite awkward to make small talk with strangers, especially when you know you’re competing against one another for the same role. However, another way to look at it is you’re all in the same boat, and chatting about that will relax you. Furthermore, when the hiring manager comes out and witnesses this, it will be seen as a good thing.
In much the same way that you shouldn’t ignore them in the waiting room, you should make sure to acknowledge and include the other candidate throughout the interview process itself. Did they make a good point? Say so. Do they reference something that you’ve been involved in? Reference what they said. Could they have a similar experience with a particular tool? Converse about it in the interview.
Involving the other candidates, especially if you’re highlighting or agreeing with points they’ve made shows several positive traits including active listening, a collaborative nature and communication skills. Additionally, when the same question is asked of all of you, referencing someone else’s answer and then expanding on it will keep you from falling into the trap of repeating the same answer. Make sure you always have something to add.
We’ve talked about the importance of asking questions at the end of an interview before, but when it comes to a group interview scenario, it has never been more important. Remember, standing out from the faceless crowd in a one-to-one interview can be difficult enough, but when you’re trying to shine more than two other people sitting right beside you, every opportunity to make yourself memorable counts.
Not only does asking questions give you the opportunity to find out more information about the role, but it shows the hiring manager that you’re interested in the role and the company. And who knows, there might be a bonus win in that you find out a way in which the role suits your skillset even more, which could help you stand out. Here are some ideas for questions to ask.
Sometimes group interviews involve tasks or questions that involve all candidates at once. This exercise is there to show how you work as a team, what the dynamics are like and who can demonstrate leadership qualities. Look for situations in which you can take the lead, but be careful to make sure it doesn’t look like you’re taking over.
If you don’t have a task or project to carry out, you may at least be all asked a question, at which point you can be the first to answer as a way of showing leadership qualities. But again, be sure you’re not always the one answering first. Showing leadership qualities in group interviews is important but it’s also a balancing act.
Want more interview advice? Check out our interview guide here. Ready to find your next dream job? Simply register your CV with us and/or create job alerts tailored to your specific career preferences. Sit back, and let us do the hard work on your behalf.
Written with contributions from the RECRUITERS team
Group interview photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash
