How to do well in a group interview
A group interview is when an employee or group of employees interview multiple candidates at the same time, or when a group of employees form a panel to interview one candidate. Most of the time, both types of group interviews are done in conference rooms to make it look like a meeting or group project.
Here are some tips and sample questions to help you prepare for a group interview and make sure you stand out from the other candidates.
Why do we have group interviews?
There are a few times when a group interview is better than a one-on-one meeting. Depending on what they want to get out of the process, employers may decide to do a group interview with several candidates or a panel interview with one candidate and several interviewers.
What is a “group interview”?
A group interview is a meeting between one interviewer and several candidates. Employers often use this type of interview when they need to fill more than one position quickly. In the food service, retail, and hospitality industries, this kind of interview is common. For example, if you want to work in retail over the holidays, you might be asked to join a group interview so they can hire people quickly.
What is a “group interview”?
A panel interview is when one candidate meets with more than one person who is interviewing them. Most of the time, panel interviews are used to learn more about a candidate for an important or competitive job from several different points of view. You might be asked to meet with a group of people after a phone screen or first interview. Each person being interviewed will be asked questions about themselves that are related to their job at the company. Most of the time, the panel is made up of people you will work with on the job.
Either a group interview or a panel interview can tell an employer a lot about how you work in a group. The group format is a better way to show what it will be like to work with others. Some employers might also wait to tell you that your interview will be with a group until right before it starts to see how you do under pressure.
Popular group interview questions
The questions asked in a group interview might be different from the ones asked in an interview with just one person. If there are more than one candidate in the group interview, the interviewer may pick one person to answer each question, or they may ask everyone to answer each question. If you are the only person in the group interview and there are more than one interviewer, each one may ask you questions that are specific to the needs of their department or team. In either case, the following are some questions you might be asked:
Multiple-candidate group interview questions
In a group interview with more than one candidate, you might be asked the following:
1. Who would you hire and why, based on what you know about the other people in this room?
Interviewers ask this question to see if you have been paying attention to what other people have said and if you can make good decisions. Listen to the other candidates talk about who they are and what skills and experiences they have.
Answer: “I would hire Max to do marketing strategy. He has worked for agencies and in-house for a long time and seems to be comfortable with a wide range of marketing automation software tools.
2. What would you do if a coworker stole something from the store and you caught them?
Interviewers might ask you questions about ethics to see how well you can handle tough situations in front of a group. They will also listen to what you have to say about how to deal with common problems based on the rules of your industry. To answer these kinds of questions, make sure you know how to solve company problems in the right way.
Answer: “I would go straight to my HR manager and file a loss prevention report, which is standard in the industry, so they could handle it using their tried-and-true methods.”
Why do you think you would be good at this job?
Interviewers ask this question to find out why you think you’re better than the other candidates and to find out how well you know yourself. This is a good time to talk about useful skills that other people might not have mentioned.
Answer: “I think I’m the best person for this customer service manager job because I’ve worked in customer service for more than five years, I’ve been in charge for two years, and I speak English and Spanish fluently, which helps me connect with a wider range of customers.”
4. What are the most important skills for this job, in your opinion?
Interviewers ask this question to find out how well you know the job and how you could use your skills to do well in it.
Answer: “I think the most important skills for a successful account manager are empathy and the ability to solve problems. Empathy lets you connect with the client and win their trust, while solving problems shows that you can meet their needs.
Panel interview questions
Here are some examples of questions you might be asked at a panel interview:
1. What are some good ways to talk to people at work?
Interviewers ask this question to find out how you might be able to help them solve some of their communication problems or to make sure that your communication style fits in with the rest of the organization. Think of a time when your ability to communicate helped you solve a problem, and talk about it.
Answer: “I think the best way to talk to someone is to find out how they like to get messages. For example, at my last job, I learned that the sales team liked to talk in person more than through email. So, I went to meetings once a week to talk about the projects my team was working on and how they related to our sales goals.
2.Can you tell us about a time you worked on a project with someone from a different department?
Interviewers ask this question to find out how you work with other people on projects and what you’ve done in the past to get along with others.
Answer: “When I was a web designer, I often worked with the development team to make sure that my wireframes were implemented correctly. I spent a full workday with the development team to learn how they did things and make communication better. This helped me better match what I was doing with what they were doing, which made things easier for everyone.
How did you decide to apply for this job?
The interviewer wants to know why you want the job, what makes you different from other candidates, and what motivates you. This is the best time to talk about your skills and what you’ve learned about the company from your research.
Answer: “It would be an honor to work for a company that lets me combine my love of technology with my desire to help the environment. I also like that ABC Company gives its workers so many chances to get better at what they do. This shows that the company cares about its employees.
