For most people, job interviews can be an anxious time. This makes sense, considering that on average, about 30% of interviewees end up getting the job that they interview for.
On top of that, if you don’t know how to do a group interview, then your chances can be even lower. Many people aren’t even especially familiar with what is a group interview and definitely aren’t familiar with the best tips for group interviews.
So how can you know how to ace a group interview?
Read on to learn all our best group interview tips!
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What Is a Group Interview?
Knowing what to expect in group interviews starts with understanding why they exist. Group interviews are a way for companies to interview more people. They are a go-to choice when companies have more than enough people interested in their job listings.
That means that if you end up in a group interview, you can expect the competition to be pretty stiff. On top of that, there are a few aspects of group interviews that change the dynamic.
First, in group interviews, there is less depth. There simply isn’t enough time to follow up on each interviewee’s answer and ask for more details. That means that you need to put all of your best information in your initial answer instead of relying on clarifying questions.
On the other hand, some group interviews consist of panel interviews. These types of interviews will have multiple people interviewing each candidate. In these cases, you can expect a lot more follow-up questions.
If you end up in a panel interview, then it might be a better strategy to save some of your best answers for later. You don’t have to say everything in the first answer you give because you will probably receive follow-up questions.
No matter which kind of group interview you end up in, there are a number of interview tips you can bring to the table. These will help you to stand out from the other working professionals and career veterans who want the same job.
Do Your Homework in Advance
In all kinds of interviews, the more prepared you are, the better you will perform. Researching the company or the industry can help you to gain key insights into the nature of your upcoming job interview.
Doing your homework will not only allow you to perform better in the interview, but it will also show that you are especially interested in the job.
Companies are often on the lookout for candidates who are extremely interested in their jobs. They expect higher performance out of these candidates. After all, if they are willing to work so hard to get the job, it seems likely that they will also work hard to keep it.
Doing your homework displays other valuable business skills as well. It shows your ability to do basic research as well as to learn information. If you can mention a few key facts about the company, the industry, or the job, then it can show that you are capable of handling these kinds of tasks.
On top of that, doing your homework will allow you to fine-tune your answers to best appeal to what the business is looking for. If you understand a company’s culture, then you can present the part of yourself that best fits with that culture. If you know what their biggest problems are, then you can talk about the skills you have that can help them to manage these problems.
All of this can be especially important if you are new to the working world. People who have more experience in the industry may be able to better fit the profile of what the business is looking for. The only way a newcomer will be able to do so is if they do their homework first.
On top of that, newcomers are more likely to experience interview anxiety. If you want to be able to present yourself as well as possible, then you will need to manage that anxiety as much as possible. Knowing that you are prepared can help you feel much more confident going into an interview.
Related Read: 25 Best Interview Tips: Expert Advice for Acing Interviews & Landing Jobs
Look and Feel Your Best
At the end of the day, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. On top of that, as much as we sometimes like to pretend they don’t, appearances matter. To increase your chances of succeeding in an interview, you should look your best.
To look your best, it is important that you give yourself as much time as possible to prepare. Get up earlier than you think you need to to make sure that you can prepare yourself carefully and without rushing.
Make sure to prepare both your grooming and your dress. Your clothes should be clean and professional.
On top of that, it may be worthwhile to put a little bit of extra effort into your grooming on the day of an important interview.
Remember, group interviews do not allow for as much depth as other types of interviews. That means that your appearance can make an even bigger difference than usual.
On top of everything else, make sure that you are physically and emotionally prepared for your interview. Make sure to eat enough, but not too much. Give yourself all the time you need to relax or hype yourself up for the interview.
Be Punctual
In group interviews, small mistakes get magnified. There is a lot that you can do to stand out, but it is almost impossible to recover from big, glaring errors. If you arrive at the interview late, it is very unlikely that you will be able to succeed at that point.
Along with preparing earlier in the day than you think you need to, you should depart for your destination sooner than you need to. Not only do you want to make sure that you arrive on time, but you want to feel certain that you will be on time. You don’t want unexpected traffic to put you in an anxious mood.
Display Social Skills
Once you are in the interview, it is time to stand out. It can be intimidating to be interviewing with so many other competitors. However, it is important that you show that you can get along with other people.
Despite the fact that you will be competing with other interviewees, they are your best opportunity to display your ability to get along with future coworkers. As a result, try to make friends before the interview.
If you can learn the names of everyone else in your interview, then you will be able to refer to them during the interview. It is important that you be able to appear friendly and competent.
Related Read: 15 Video Interview Tips: Top Tips to Mind for Remote Job Interviews
Be a Good Listener
At the end of the day, interviews are about more than just ability. People want to hire someone who will make a good co-worker. After all, they will have to put up with them for months and years to come.
Make sure you display good listening skills in your group interview. This way, people will feel that if they hire you, you will be capable of listening to them when you work together.
Bring Other People into the Conversation
Whenever possible, businesses like to hire people with leadership skills. Leadership skills often simply refer to the ability to get along with other people and cooperate with them.
On top of that, leadership skills sometimes mean being able to do more than is expected of you. When an interviewer asks you a question, you might be inclined to simply answer and then be quiet. But, depending on the situation, it can be far more impressive to briefly bring somebody else into the conversation.
If you can mention one of your fellow interviewees by name and mention a business conversation you had prior to the interview, it can display excellent leadership skills.
Follow Up Later On
After your group interview, it is worth taking the time to follow up. Especially in group interviews, it can be difficult for interviewers to remember everybody they talk with. Candidates who follow up have a much better chance of forming a lasting memory.
Related Read: 25 Common Interview Questions and Answers (How to Answer Them All!)
Be Prepared With the Best Group Interview Tips
We hope that you were able to learn something about how to do a group interview from this brief article. Knowing how to ace a group interview is the key to standing out from everyone else who is also being interviewed.
In the business world, luck tends to favor the prepared. That means learning all the group interview tips that you can find.
To learn more about interviews and other ways that you can thrive in your professional life, check out our other articles like these great career posts!