Group interviews are used by companies to determine candidate qualities such as leadership, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. Questions are generally general in nature and may ask candidates to describe themselves, how they handled a difficult situation, where they hope to be in five years, and what they liked or disliked about a previous position. Candidates can stand out by being prepared and giving concise answers that demonstrate their personal and professional nature. Etiquette requires greeting and distributing a fresh copy of the resume to each panelist, making eye contact, and sending individual thank you notes after the interview.
A job interview is often a time for candidates and hiring managers to meet for Q&A interaction. Among the types of interviews used by companies is the group variety, in which candidates can meet with various members of the organization. Group interview questions are generally general in nature and may ask candidates to describe themselves, highlighting how a difficult situation was handled, where they hope to be in five years, and what they liked or disliked about a previous position. Additional tips for group interviews include shaking hands and making eye contact with each panelist, followed by individual thank you notes.
Group interviews can be used in one of two scenarios. The first may involve several job seekers interacting with one or more interviewers. Participants are often divided into smaller groups, which helps interviewers designate strong candidates. The second scenario is often referred to as a panel interview, in which a candidate meets with several different team members at the same time. The CEO, senior executives and/or mid-level managers may be present.
Group interview questions generally do not address individual aspects of a job. Instead, they are often used to determine candidate qualities. Characteristics such as leadership, presence, speaking skills, communication techniques and interpersonal skills can commonly be examined during a group interview. Coping mechanisms for stressful situations can also be revised with these interactions.
One likely way to stand out in a group interview is to be prepared. As a result of the common nature of group interview questions, candidates are able to formulate answers before the actual meeting. For example, some interviewers like to ask candidates how they would describe themselves. It is usually an opportunity for the candidate to bond with the job. So a concise answer might represent someone as a team player, an analytical thinker, or a strong leader.
The candidate’s response to this question may also demonstrate one or more professional behaviors in action. Examples often include honesty, drive, or tenacity. When the two responses are connected, they can create a clear picture of the candidate’s personal and professional nature. An exemplary response may therefore describe honesty and strong customer service, with details of past experience.
It may be necessary to draw on past experience when answering other common group interview questions. For example, sometimes candidates must discuss how a difficult situation was handled. Not only does this question help the interviewer know what is defined as difficult, it also demonstrates the candidate’s ability to work under stress. Strong illustrations of such situations might include firing an employee, communicating with an upset customer, or improving sales during an economic downturn.
Some interviewers ask a candidate where he hopes to be in five years. In many cases, a safe but thoughtful response may be the best approach, in which the candidate expresses hope for a leadership position or being considered a true professional. Candidates can also use this question as a way to learn what internal opportunities may exist in the future. An answer can then be extracted from that information as well.
If one of the interviewers is testing for mismatches, he might ask what he liked or disliked about a candidate’s previous work. One possible way to answer this is to listen to information about the open position or company and use it. The key is to stay positive and avoid negative statements about co-workers or past employers.
Additional tips can also help in preparing for a group interview. For example, etiquette often requires that you greet and distribute a fresh copy of your resume to each panelist. When responding, candidates should generally make eye contact first with the questioner and then with each additional interviewer. If asking a question, applicants are generally asked to ask a person.
After the group interview, candidates can thank the panel or interviewers for the opportunity to meet. Etiquette usually calls for sending a thank you note to each member. These notes are likely to be personalized, including a short message reminiscent of a previous conversation with the respective interviewer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
