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mikeyj

In a group interview you will find yourself answering questions and working in tasks alongside your competition for the job.

Group interviews save time, which saves the company money. A pool of candidates can be whittled down effectively in one swoop. Plus, they allow the interviewer to directly compare how candidates perform.

Just like any organisation, the success of the group depends on the cohesion of the people within it. You will need to demonstrate you have what it takes in whatever tasks you face.

Interview questions are all about using your past behaviour to try and predict how you will perform in the future. Group tasks allow the interviewer(s) to see how you really react. They get actual evidence of how you respond rather than just statements to sell yourself in the interview.

You will be asked to perform group tasks as part of the interview. Any tasks will be chosen very specifically to monitor how the group interacts. The interviewer(s) will be watching and listening. It’s your job to make sure they choose you to go forward by standing out in the group.

Your aim is to arouse their interest; you cant win the job in a group interview….but you can lcertanly ose it. You want to make sure you are selected to go forward and get a face to face interview so they can learn more about you.

What will they be looking for?

Team working
Group dynamics will be observed to see how the candidates respond to the designed challenges and whether you show the right personality traits.

Communication skills
Communication is vital to success in a group interview, as in the wider business world. The best interviewees understand the importance of communication, and know how communicate effectively within the group.

Organisational skills
Most people try to assume the role of group leader. This may be a great idea if you are going for a management position, but what if you’re not? It’s far more important to actually show the qualities that the interviewers want to see. What are the attributes necessary for the role? By doing your background research to prepare for the interview, you will be prepared to give the interviewer what they want to see.

The X factor
You want to stand out from the group in a positive way, to be noticed and set yourself apart. This is all about your ability to present yourself effectively.
To learn about the art of interview presentation, and what you need to do, you can read this article; www.interview-tips-that-work.com/job-interview-presentation.html

Good luck Very Happy

stormbind · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:46 am Post subject:

Are you sure? Smile

A group interview does not, in my experience, involve tasks. It is a group of applicants interviewed at one time and there will be one star performer who rises above the others (i.e. me) Smile

However, I have only experienced such interviews for B2C sales. In other words, they want bold and assertive individuals who can perform tasks in busy crowds.

In contrast, group selections involve tasks and are not interviews. It is a group of applicants competing against other groups of applicants. The recruiters are observing team role behaviours, and they might reorganised the groups between tasks. I have experienced this model when corporations are seeking candidates to join long-term career programmes. They are keeping scores and seeking people with a breadth of behaviours that matches their long-term predictions (i.e. me) Smile

Incidentally, in such a recruitment project, three members of my team made it to the interviews. Other teams were less successful. The actual interview was each individual against a panel in which I made a terrible mistake. Specifically, thinking it was better to be hard working, I understated the extent of my delegations! I did not realise my error because I had no experience of management, and even worse, they knew I was fibbing! Embarassed

mikeyj · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject:

Stormbind,

I think your post perhaps highlights the point that a group interview could take a number of different forms, this is certainly what I have seen and experienced working as a recruitment consultant. That is the challenge faced by an interviewee.

Do your homework and find out as much as you can about the format the interview will take, so you are as prepared as you can be.

Very Happy

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