Interviews one-on-one can already be intimidating, but they are even more so when you’re put in the same room with every applicant going after the same position. In today’s competitive talent market, more and more employers are using group interviews to speed up the hiring process.
At the end of the day, interviewers are just looking for the sort of person they would want to work with.
So how can applicants ensure they shine in group interviews?
demonstrate your people skills.
Firstly, it’s important that an applicant highlights their capability to work well with everyone in the room. Overconfidence and dominant behaviour may not attract the attention you’re looking for, whereas demonstrating relationship building with other candidates and incorporating this with open body language will.
study their company values.
Secondly, it’s important to consider what the organisation’s beliefs are. Embodying these values shows not only that the applicant has seriously prepared for the role, but that they fit into the company's culture.
The interviewers are evaluating whether they will be able to contribute positively to their business, so they’re far more likely to hire the applicant that genuinely aligns with their company values.
One of the best impressions that any interviewee can make is to demonstrate their understanding of the company's story and culture.
show your leadership skills.
Thirdly, if an applicant is interviewed alongside other potential candidates, then it can be advantageous to lead rather than to follow. But here is the catch: leading well also involves listening and responding respectfully when people have differing thoughts.
Whilst applicants don’t want to end up blending into the background by being overly quiet, they also don’t want to be memorable for the wrong reasons, like being the person that spoke over everyone.
Make sure all points of view are heard in order to make balanced and collaborative decisions and to really impress the interviewers.
show your communication skills.
Fourthly, applicants should make sure they highlight their communication skills. The ability to properly articulate thoughts and unpack complex ideas is very attractive to interviewers, especially if the workplace has frequent inter-departmental discussion.
Fortunately, a group interview is the perfect place to show that you’re comfortable and sensitive to communicating with different people. As well as allowing time to talk to everyone in the room, take the time to listen to everyone’s viewpoints, and comment on them accordingly.
If an applicant does this, it’ll show that they actually were paying attention, rather than nodding and thinking about lunch or anything else.
make a connection.
In an effort to separate themselves from the crowd, applicants could also try to make a personal connection with their interviewer. Whether it be a talk about sports or about raising a family, an interview is more than just your skills but all dimensions of your personality, career goals and aspirations.
Aim to be the most memorable applicant in the room for the interviewers.
Of course, don’t forget the basics such as dressing for the job you want and arriving on time or a little early.
