Do’s and Dont’s to ACE Group interview.

A group interview, sometimes known as a panel interview, is different than a one-on-one interview because it is conducted by a whole group of people. This can feel even more intimidating than a traditional interview because there are more people in the room to impress. The key to success is knowing what you can expect from a group interview. This will help to ease your nerves and also help you understand why companies use these interviews and what is expected of you.

TYPES OF GROUP INTERVIEWS

The first things that you need to know about group interviews is that there are two basic types of group interviews:

• A Candidate Group – In a candidate group interview, you will most likely be put in a room with other job applicants. In many cases, these applicants will be applying for the same position that you are applying for. During a candidate group interview, you will definitely be asked to listen to information about the company and the position, and you may be asked to answer questions or participate in group exercises. This type of group interview is not very common.
• A Panel Group – In a panel group interview, which is much more common than a candidate group interview, you will most likely be interviewed individually by a panel of two or more people. This type of group interview is almost always a question and answer session, but you might also be asked to participate in some type of exercise or test that simulates your potential work environment.

 WHY COMPANIES USE GROUP INTERVIEWS

An increasing number of companies are using group interviews to screen job applicants. This change could be attributed to the desire to reduce turnover and the fact that teamwork is becoming more critical in the workplace, but the easiest way to explain it is that two heads are almost always better than one.

When there is more than one person doing the interviewing, the chances of a bad hiring decision being made are reduced.

In a group interview, each interviewer will likely look at things inn a different way and bring different questions to the table. For example, a human resources specialist may know a lot about hiring, firing, training, and benefits, but a department supervisor will probably have a better understanding of the day-to-day activities that you will be asked to perform if you get the job. If both of these people are on a panel, they will ask you different types of questions.

WHAT GROUP INTERVIEWERS LOOK FOR

Group interviewers look for the same things other interviewers look for. They want to see a strong candidate who knows how to work well with others and behave properly and competently in a work environment. Specific things that group interviewers scrutinize:

• Your Appearance. Attire, hygiene, and anything else that relates to your physical form will be judged. If you wear too much make-up or cologne, at least one of the interviewers will notice. If you forgot to put on deodorant or match your socks, at least one of the interviewers will notice. Learn more about how to dress for an interview.

• Your Presentation Skills. Interviewers will be paying special attention to how you present yourself. Do you slouch or fidget? Do you make eye contact when you converse? Did you remember to shake hands with everyone in the room? Be aware of your body language and what it says about you during an interview.
• Your communication skills. No matter what type of job you are applying for, you will need to be able to communicate. Specific skills that group interviewers look for is your ability to listen, follow instructions and get your ideas across.
• Your Interest Level. From the time the interview starts until it ends, interviewers will be trying to assess how interested you are in the job you are applying for. If you seem bored and disengaged during the interview, you will probably be passed by for someone else.

Some of the world’s top MBA programs use a team-based interview format, and we won’t be surprised if this trend grows in the future. Business schools want students who will play nice with others, and so watching how someone interacts with peers before anyone’s even admitted can be very telling.

Here’s what you don’t want to do during a group interview:

Dominate the conversation Cut others off or dismiss someone’s idea entirely Raise your voice Roll your eyes, cross your arms, or display any other kind of negative body language Take out your phone or any other electronic device Those may seem like obvious tips, but in the heat of the moment you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget you’re being judged. (Once again, this is exactly why some schools like this approach!)

Here’s what you should try to accomplish:

Demonstrate you’ve done your research (if given a topic in advance). Listen—truly listen—to the others in your group when they speak. Seize any opportunities to either build upon or refer to someone else’s point Put the group’s goal ahead of trying to get airtime Offer to summarize if the conversation has reached a point where the group would benefit from a quick recap As many MBA applicants are born leaders who are used to taking charge, you’ll need to be conscious of the fact that you might be surrounded by lots of Type A personalities and adjust your style accordingly. However, if you tend to be on the shy side, don’t let others intimidate you. If no one’s given you the chance to get a word in, you’re going to have to find an appropriate way to join the conversation before it’s too late.   group job interview questions group interview activities what to wear to a group interview group interview definition how to conduct a group interview what to expect in a group interview for retail group interview exercises group interview advantages and disadvantages