"Group" Interview
Discussion
Hello,
Ive just found out I have a "group" interview next week.
This may sound stupid, but what is a group interview? I'd guess it being the same as a panel interview, i.e. one candidate with x number of recruiters.
However, it sounds to me like there will be more than one candidate.....if so, what a stupid way of doing things.
Grrrrr.
Ive just found out I have a "group" interview next week.
This may sound stupid, but what is a group interview? I'd guess it being the same as a panel interview, i.e. one candidate with x number of recruiters.
However, it sounds to me like there will be more than one candidate.....if so, what a stupid way of doing things.
Grrrrr.
Group Interview Tests
Group tests are used by an employer to see how you react in a group. They will want to see if you help or hinder the group reach its objectives. An observer will be watching to see how you take criticism, whether you take on leadership roles and involve less communicative group members. If you chair the meeting the observer will be checking on how you plan and keep control of the meeting. If you are leading a group activity the observer will be interested in seeing how good you are at delegating tasks and how much of the work you keep for yourself.
www.alec.co.uk/interview/group.htm
A truly frightening experience!
Group tests are used by an employer to see how you react in a group. They will want to see if you help or hinder the group reach its objectives. An observer will be watching to see how you take criticism, whether you take on leadership roles and involve less communicative group members. If you chair the meeting the observer will be checking on how you plan and keep control of the meeting. If you are leading a group activity the observer will be interested in seeing how good you are at delegating tasks and how much of the work you keep for yourself.
www.alec.co.uk/interview/group.htm
A truly frightening experience!
Group interviews are fine, imo easier than the actual one-on-one interviews. If they are the same thing that I am thinking about you will have a group of 4 or more people and are set a task, it's all about you interact with the others. Obviously not everyone can be chairman etc so they are judging you on how you fit into the role you adopt or are asked to perform. The difference between that and one-on-one interviews is that it's based on the way you interact with several people rather than just the interviewer.
As part of the whole assesment center "experience" they are not as bad as some of the other exercises out there.
As part of the whole assesment center "experience" they are not as bad as some of the other exercises out there.
Thing is, though, are they necessarily going to choose the applicant that does the best in the test? The idea might be to weed out clever go-getters on the basis that they will get bored in the job they have in mind, or even that they might eventually take over the job of the interviewer?
I've been on the assessing end of these a couple of times (and they don't particularly work - the people chosen turned out to have some interesting faults!). A couple of tips:
- Keep reminding yourself about the real prize. It's about how you act, not how well the group does.
- Choose your moment to talk. Don't talk over people, but be sure to make some contribution (they may measure the number of times you speak).
- Features they may like include chairmanship (ensuring everyone is kept in the activity), project management (everyone has a job, keeping an eye on time, and performance against objectives), being an Indian (shut up, volunteer to take on a particular sub-project, get a clear brief), team building (saying well done)
One trick that can make a good impression. Right from the beginning, take a piece of control, and state that the best way of solving the problem is to split into task groups. For a task of building a bridge, one team works on the overall design, one team on the supports, one looks at the brief for detail points, one looks at the list of items that can be bought, and one person (could be you) deals with the interaction between teams. If the project moves into a construction phase, resplit the group into construction teams, and be ready to move staf between teams.
This makes a massive impression on both the team and assessors. There is a good chance the team will immediately accept you as their overall leader (remember to have team leaders for each job). You also look great, do very little (which frees your mind to clock watch, see how the team is performing and suggest changes) without getting too involved in the project.
If someone challenges you as leader, be open and ask for their view. Get a clear decision from the rest of the group, quickly. If you stand down, make sure you stay involved and don't be seen to sulk - volunteer for a sub-project you can run away from the main group (as mentioned already). If the rest of the group screw up, you still look like a diamond in the pooh.
- Keep reminding yourself about the real prize. It's about how you act, not how well the group does.
- Choose your moment to talk. Don't talk over people, but be sure to make some contribution (they may measure the number of times you speak).
- Features they may like include chairmanship (ensuring everyone is kept in the activity), project management (everyone has a job, keeping an eye on time, and performance against objectives), being an Indian (shut up, volunteer to take on a particular sub-project, get a clear brief), team building (saying well done)
One trick that can make a good impression. Right from the beginning, take a piece of control, and state that the best way of solving the problem is to split into task groups. For a task of building a bridge, one team works on the overall design, one team on the supports, one looks at the brief for detail points, one looks at the list of items that can be bought, and one person (could be you) deals with the interaction between teams. If the project moves into a construction phase, resplit the group into construction teams, and be ready to move staf between teams.
This makes a massive impression on both the team and assessors. There is a good chance the team will immediately accept you as their overall leader (remember to have team leaders for each job). You also look great, do very little (which frees your mind to clock watch, see how the team is performing and suggest changes) without getting too involved in the project.
If someone challenges you as leader, be open and ask for their view. Get a clear decision from the rest of the group, quickly. If you stand down, make sure you stay involved and don't be seen to sulk - volunteer for a sub-project you can run away from the main group (as mentioned already). If the rest of the group screw up, you still look like a diamond in the pooh.
trooper1212 said:
So with a bit of luck you're given the role that you're best suited to and they don't spot your weaknesses... good recruitment methodology then
They help to weed out the people with that sort of attitude to things ;P
blah blah blah.
I'm more likely to be found on the other side of the table, organising such a gittish event
snag is with these things is that i, like many people, wouldn't come across in the best light what with interview nerves and being monitored/tested in such a fashion, yet in the real world I perform rather well in such situations, either as chairman, teamleader or teamworker. *shrug*
Just relax, it is to show how you react to different personalities within the room.
You need to make sure you don't a)flirt b) pay too much attention to one person and c)say anything daft.
Make sure you have your questions in advance and take a notepad with you. Make notes this always impresses people it means you pau attentionto detaisl.
Good Luck!
You need to make sure you don't a)flirt b) pay too much attention to one person and c)say anything daft.
Make sure you have your questions in advance and take a notepad with you. Make notes this always impresses people it means you pau attentionto detaisl.
Good Luck!
becksporsche said:
Just relax, it is to show how you react to different personalities within the room.
You need to make sure you don't a)flirt b) pay too much attention to one person and c)say anything daft.
Make sure you have your questions in advance and take a notepad with you. Make notes this always impresses people it means you pau attentionto detaisl.
Good Luck!
Generally (b) leads to (a) which leads to (c)!
mrflibbles said:
becksporsche said:
Just relax, it is to show how you react to different personalities within the room.
You need to make sure you don't a)flirt b) pay too much attention to one person and c)say anything daft.
Make sure you have your questions in advance and take a notepad with you. Make notes this always impresses people it means you pau attentionto detaisl.
Good Luck!
Generally (b) leads to (a) which leads to (c)!
so thats where went wrong. and the interviewer told me that i should be addressing the other interviewees more... just didnt listen to her.
edited to correct grand-ma. kinda. innit.
>> Edited by shadowninja on Tuesday 2nd March 23:26
So on a serious note:
The group excersize is likely to take the form of a task / discussion. If a discussion would this be on, for example, current affairs, or something directly related to the job, i.e. "How would you deal with a client who..."?
If the group excersize was a task / not job related, surely they would have to interview individually anyway.....
I dont have much experience with this kind of thing
The group excersize is likely to take the form of a task / discussion. If a discussion would this be on, for example, current affairs, or something directly related to the job, i.e. "How would you deal with a client who..."?
If the group excersize was a task / not job related, surely they would have to interview individually anyway.....
I dont have much experience with this kind of thing
mrflibbles said:
So on a serious note:
The group excersize is likely to take the form of a task / discussion. If a discussion would this be on, for example, current affairs, or something directly related to the job, i.e. "How would you deal with a client who..."?
If the group excersize was a task / not job related, surely they would have to interview individually anyway.....
I dont have much experience with this kind of thing
A discussion based group interview will almost certainly be on something unrelated to your workplace.
When we used to do them, the discussion topics were things like: Millenium Dome, Whether space exploration is a worthwhile cause, Political issues of the time etc...
The subject is relatively unimportant as you won't be marked on what you say, but how you say it and how you interact. Don't overbear the conversation, don't get animated and defensive, don't sit quietly waiting for your turn, don't smarm up to the observer. Do be enthusiastic, do be prepared to back up your points raised, do question other peoples points in a non-offensive manner.
Don't worry about the person who is trying to lead the discussion, don't try and wrestle control away, just make a worthwhile contribution. If you can be charming and amusing, then play that for all its worth.
Thiw will not be your only interview, I can promise you that
There will be 1-2-1 interviews to go along with this.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff