Interview Preparation for the Group Interview

The Group Interview

Group interviews are another commonly used type of interview

For organisations that are looking to fill multiple vacancies and need to hire people quickly, this is the ideal type of interview format. One of the main benefits for companies is that it saves them time and stops them from having to hold multiple interviews when looking to fill a large number of vacancies at once. Group interviews can be used to hire candidates outright, or they can be used for screening candidates as part of a longer recruitment process where the best candidates are selected at the group interview stage to progress onto subsequent stages of an interview process. Group interviews give a company an idea of how well you can cope in stressful situations and are designed to assess how well you work as part of a team, your ability to think quickly under pressure, as well as problem solving and leadership skills among other things. Group interviews normally include multiple interviewers as well as multiple candidates and can involve different types of exercises and activities. For instance, you may be asked to do a team presentation or to participate in a team building exercise and then be assessed on how well you’ve interacted and contributed within the group. Or you may be given a topic regarding the job role, the company, or any other subject related to the industry and asked to discuss this amongst yourselves as part of a focus group with the interviewers observing. Another type of test is where the interviewer might pose a series of different questions to the group and observe all the responses and interactions between the various candidates. You may be asked to do some, or all of the things above in a group interview

Group interviews and Panel interviews are the two types of interviews that differ from other interview types. Most interviews involve an intense discussion between you and one other person – the interviewer. In these situation’s the interviewer’s attention is directly focused on you and no one else. Panel and group interviews differ because of the fact they involve other people. It is a fundamental difference, and it makes these interviews more social than other interview types

This is where your body language can really make you stand out. Make your gestures more expressive and authoritative, (whereas if you were talking to a single person by themselves this would be interpreted as loud, elaborate, and over expressive, in a group interview these same mannerisms will be seen as confident, self-assured, and assertive)

In a group interview the dynamic is different because you don’t get the individual attention you would in other types of interviews due to the fact that the interviewer(s) have to observe numerous people at once. That’s why it’s so important to stand out, and it’s why body language is very important in these types of interviews because you can use it to make up for the lack of one-on-one time with your interviewer. In this type of environment, the interviewer is looking to see who stands out. Making strong, animated gestures that project confidence and authority are a sure way to do this. Also making good, effective eye contact will have the same effect. Do this by shifting your gaze around everyone in the group, always taking care to let your gaze settle for a prolonged length of time whenever making eye contact with your interviewer(s)

Below you will find questions and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in the group interview. Alternatively, why don’t you look at the link at the bottom of the page for the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview

CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF THE INTERVIEW

When attending a group interview there are numerous small but important things you can do that will help you stand out from the crowd and ensure yours is among the first names the interviewers pick from the group

Show up on time
The simplest thing you can do when attending a group interview (or any interview for that matter) is to show up on time

A large part of your success in a group interview is determined by the extent of your participation. In a normal interview, if you’re not on time, you’ll be marked down for this, and while it can count against your overall chances – it won’t necessarily cost you the interview. However, when you are interviewing together alongside other candidates, you will immediately stand out, for the wrong reasons, if you arrive late. It is especially worse in this type of interview, because not only are the interviewers are looking to whittle their candidate selection down, but they are also observing each individual’s interactions to see how much they participate and contribute within the group dynamic, and while in a one-on-one interview the interview can’t start without you, in a group interview, this is not the case, and the later you are, the less chance you’ll get to participate in the interview itself. Again, showing up late won’t automatically lose you the interview, but it drastically decreases the chances of being one of the candidates selected from the group, and that means you will need to work doubly hard to get yourself involved and impress the interviewer(s) with your contributions. That’s why starting the interview on time with everybody else is one of the simplest ways to get your interview off to a great start

The handshake
The opening handshake will constitute one of the very first impressions that your interviewer(s) will have of you. The handshake you deliver must be nice and firm. (If seated), stand up and face your interviewer squarely to shake their hand. It is also important to make eye contact and smile sincerely when you first meet your interviewer and shake hands with them for the first time

Introduce yourself
At the start of the interview, you will normally get the chance to introduce yourself to the group. Again, use this opportunity as best as you can to stand out from the crowd. Having a well-rehearsed personal introduction, or self-introductory speech as it’s sometimes referred to, can be useful in so many different types of ways, and this is one of them. See the self-introductions section for more help with examples

Not to be confused with the personal statement on a C.V, a personal introduction is a short introduction that can be used to tell people things about the type of employment that you’re seeking and includes things like your name, education, qualifications and experience, and what attracted you to apply for the position. Things like interests and hobbies may be acceptable to include as well in certain circumstances. In this circumstance though, each person will only have a limited amount of time to complete their introduction, so be tactful and keep it brief

Below is an example of a straightforward introduction that would be appropriate in a group interview setting:
‘Hello. It’s great to meet you all. My name is xxx. I’m the sort of person who takes great pride in the work that I do. I recently finished a bachelor’s degree in administration last year after attending Northwestern University, and I feel that was a really important milestone for me because it’s really motivated me to go after what I want most in life.
I want to tell you all a bit about how I’m feeling today, because to tell you the truth, I feel like I’ve been blessed, and I feel that way because some people go through their lives never really knowing what they want to do with themselves. They never experience the joy and fulfilment of building a successful career, because to achieve this goal, it’s something that not only requires a solid educational background, but also a lot of personal discipline and the strength to follow your ambitions.
As for myself, I have extensive experience answering phones, arranging appointments, filing and managing databases, and preparing letters and presentations, owed largely to a natural ability I have for multi-tasking. I also work well under pressure and regularly use IT and Microsoft Office packages in the work that I do. Being a person who obtained a degree while working a part-time job I am no stranger to hard work. That’s why I’m eager to bring this same determination and commitment to this company and I’m excited to have the chance to discuss this role with you here today’.

Or, some people might choose to go with something more humorous and anecdotical. It sets a much lighter tone and can also work very well too, for example:
‘Hi everyone. My name is xxx. I’ve heard it said that if you work in the – (sales industry) ‘your industry here’ – that’s it so exciting/ intense/ fulfilling that you even think about selling things in your sleep. And while that certainly brings a whole new meaning to the phrase bringing your work home with you – in some ways I feel it does describe me. While I certainly don’t think about work in my sleep, I do believe I live the values that defines the work that I do on a daily basis; it’s what motivated me to get into this line of work, and it’s one of the things that enables me to perform my role so well. That’s why I’m looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better today and discussing this position in more detail with everyone here’.

Use body language to your advantage in a group interview
Body language is an integral part of any interview and is one of the main things your interviewer is trained to assess you on. Body language consists of things like posture, eye contact, and firm handshakes and hand gestures; and will be noted both consciously and on a subconscious level not only by your interviewer(s) – but by everyone else around you too. While your main priority should be to concentrate on responding to the questions you’re being asked and presenting your answers in the best way possible, even having a basic awareness of your own body language should be enough to positively influence the mannerisms and expressions you employ over the course of your interview. Having confident and expressive body language in the group interview is something your interviewer(s) will certainly take note of, and it can end up having a big impact on their overall assessment of you

When you enter the building, if nervousness is getting the better of you, taking a quiet moment for yourself in front of the bathroom mirror can do you the world of good. Go to the bathroom and straighten yourself up, smile your brightest smile and put on your best feel good pose. Just taking this brief moment to compose yourself can make you feel 10 times better and can give you the confidence boost you need to take your interview head on

Part of the psychology of positive body language starts before the interview even begins

From the time that you enter the building, you should be preparing yourself for the interview that awaits. Sit up straight with your chin held up so as to adopt a great formal posture from the time you set yourself down in the reception area. Consciously maintaining this good posture before you meet your interviewer is a great tactic because it will help you feel more self-confident, will help to reduce nervousness, and is a great way to subconsciously retain a good posture once your interview begins

What you carry into the interview is equally important as well. You are advised only to take one bag with you (either a handbag or briefcase), containing your resumes, notepad, and other essential items. This is because once you enter the interview room, you don’t want to be burdened with too many items, for things to go smoothly it is important to keep your hands free and unobstructed. As soon as you get into the reception area and have spoken with the receptionist, make yourself comfortable in the nearest chair – this will help calm your nerves. Put your belongings to one side so that your hands are free and so you can comfortably get up and gather your things when the interviewer arrives. Leaving yourself unencumbered will help you stand up to do this seamlessly and will help make a strong first impression when you meet your interviewer

Another thing that can sometimes be overlooked by interview attendees is the additional clothing that they have on, as items like coats and scarfs can be quite cumbersome. When you enter the reception area, if you are wearing a coat, scarf, or any other item of clothing that’s not part of your actual interviewing attire, check with the receptionist and see if you can leave it at the desk. (An interview can be quite intense – there will be a lot going on around you and your mind may be elsewhere so don’t forget to collect it again when you leave!)

Use body language that conveys confidence and assertiveness
Start off with a firm handshake when you first meet the interviewer(s).
Walk into the interview room confidently, and when you take your seat sit up straight in your chair and keep your legs straight. When the interviewer(s) are relaying important information lean-in from time to time to convey interest

(Negative body language in any interview is definite no – no. Avoid any negative body language such as slouching in your chair, crossing your arms or legs, tapping your hands and feet, or fidgeting. The interviewer is trained to look for signs like this and if they notice these things, it will harm your chances of landing role

It is acceptable to use expressive hand gestures when talking to your interviewer(s)
Using your hands for expression as you naturally would if you we’re speaking to someone normally is a good practice to utilize when interviewing. But if you are unsure about what to do with your hands or are nervous about doing this, clasp them together neatly on your lap and leave them there

Use good style and posture
When you take your seat sit up straight in your chair, keep your legs straight, and make sure you do not slump at any time. Also, avoid sitting fully back in your chair, ideally you always want to have a slight bit of space between the seat and your back, this keeps your posture upright and gives the interviewer a positive impression of your attentiveness

A straight back chair is best – while comfortable and padded seating is more relaxing it is not very suitable for interview situations because it is more difficult to sit up straight in

Positive verbal gestures such as nodding are also a must
Using verbal gestures such as nodding reinforces the perception that you are following along with what is being said. The interviewer will see that you are attuned and interested in what they are saying, that’s why you should use positive verbal gestures regularly and naturally in the same way you would do in a normal conversation. Express your enthusiasm through positive actions and expressions such as nodding, agreeing, and smiling whenever you feel it’s appropriate

Smile
People stand out more in a group who are smiling. Interviewers are more receptive to someone who smiles; tending both to be more receptive and more trusting of them when they speak. Many group interviews are for job fields that include a customer service element, so smiling will fit in well with the undertone of the interview in many cases anyway

(It’s important to be yourself when you smile. If you don’t think you can do this, you shouldn’t bother trying. Because if your smile seems forced, it will tend to resonate and create a bad impression that is subtly noticeable to those around you. You also need to consider that while smiling can be an effective tactic, a group interview is normally a very charged, fairly aggressive environment; and it may be difficult or impractical to maintain the level of composure needed to keep a constant smile throughout the course of your interview. How you go through the interview is down to your own individual preference – but starting the interview off with a smile that others remember and want to see again is always a worthwhile way to consider starting a group interview off with)

Address the interviewer(s) by name
Once the interview starts you should try to address the interviewer(s) by name as much as possible. To this end, it is advisable to put the name(s) of your interviewer(s) onto a notepad, especially if you’re participating in a group or panel interview, and refer to it as needed throughout the interview whenever addressing them by name as much as possible

(Remember that it may be perfectly acceptable to take notes in some types of interviews. Utilizing this practice, particularly in a group or panel interview, can help you reference critical points mentioned previously in the discussion, thus helping you control the flow of conversation within the group itself. It will also help you stand out as being more attentive, interested, and organised, particularly in a group interview setting as the majority of candidates may overlook this step – although remember that you should always ask permission before taking out your notepad in any interview)

Don’t get distracted
The purpose of a group interview is to participate in the discussion. If you use a notepad during the group interview it is essential that you don’t get distracted from your true purpose. If you don’t participate in the interview, you won’t be selected from the group of candidates, period!

Don’t be afraid to ask to take notes
Most people, especially if they are inexperienced at interviewing, are many times hesitant to consider taking notes at their interviews. That’s why it’s important to remember that in some interview scenarios this can be a perfectly acceptable practice. If the interviewer allows you to take notes during your interview it can be an immensely helpful thing, although its purposefulness and uses are normally understated. Remember that if your interviewer(s) are happy for you to take notes at the interview that it can give you a big advantage over other interviewees who have negated to do this – especially when we consider the following

Some people might baulk at taking notes during an interview, and while it’s true that notetaking is a more challenging way to go through an interview, it may be more than worth the effort. There are numerous ways that notetaking can assist you over the course of your next interview:

To start with, it is invaluable in helping you remember interviewer names. (This is especially true in group and panel interviews)
Notetaking is also a great tactic because it makes you look attentive, professional, and interested throughout the course of the entire interview
It is extremely helpful when writing thank you notes as you can reference to things you have written down during good parts of your interview
Taking notes is useful after the interview has ended for other reasons as well…that’s because everyone is different, each person has their own style, and their own unique pitch and way of doing things, whether it’s something they’ve thought of themselves or borrowed from someone else. The point is, during the group interview someone will probably say something interesting, and you will probably notice it. So, when the interview ends, on your journey back on the bus or train, or once you get home, look over your notes for anything good that was said during the interview. You can then work this into your own stylized pitch to use in future interviews – or if it has any relevance, include some of it in a thank you note
Similarly, it’s also brilliant for doing follow-up interviews as you can reference back to things previous interviewers have said regarding the role, or reference other important conversational points that were brought up, either for general revision before follow-up interviews, or even taking this a step further by composing some of the points you’ve noted into competency or behavioural based interview examples. This can help you create much more relevant and effective answers to competency and behavioural based questions that will WOW the interviewer
Above all else, you can enhance your responses by incorporating things that you’ve noted as the interview progresses. This gives you the means to create answers that are much more effectively constructed because notetaking enables you to pick up on important things that have been said over the course of your interview that you can then work into subsequent answers

Example. ‘I noted at the beginning of the interview that you mentioned one of the main demands of the role is having the skill to prioritize my workload effectively while being able to work under pressure. This is very relevant to what you have just asked me about my daily duties because in my last role one of my main responsibilities was the booking and managing of appointments for our clients, this was a crucial and time intensive responsibility that required me to work under pressure, sometimes to tight deadlines, and required me to pay close attention to detail. Not only this, but I also took an active role in the day to day running of the team by updating the time management portal. This helped us attain effective utilisation of personnel resources by assigning our staff to work that took priority first, thereby putting them where they were needed most, and helping our team to meet its targets and prioritize its workload efficiently on a daily basis’.

Pre-written notes
One of the biggest advantages of notetaking in an interview is the aspect of using pre-written notes. Especially when it comes to putting across the points you want to make about yourself smoothly and methodically, pre-written notes have the potential to make your answers so much more well-constructed and effective. (Remember this is not notetaking done during the interview, but rather notes you’ve written beforehand and can refer to as the interview is taking place – remember you should always check with your interviewer first before using notes of any kind, and if pre-written you must always clarify what they contain to the interviewer first

While there are advantages to notetaking during the interview, there are some perceived disadvantages as well
Many people only have limited interview experience, that’s why some of them may not feel confident enough to remain focused on what is being said while taking notes at the same time. Certainly, there is the potential that by dividing your attention between notetaking and responding to an interviewer’s questions that it could detract from your delivery over the course of the interview. This is something you’ll need to take into consideration before deciding on whether or not to attempt to utilise this practice for yourself in an interview setting
Another detraction sometimes made is that there is the danger that you can get so focused on writing things down that you might miss a question that the interviewer has asked, or other important information they have conveyed to you – this is another potential concern, and if this happens once or twice throughout the interview it could be very damaging to your overall chances of success
Following on from these points is the fact that taking notes will also cause you to have marginally less eye contact with your interviewer, as you divert your attention away from the interviewer and to your notepad. Direct eye contact is something the interviewer is looking for, so you need to consider how notetaking would affect your ability to do this

These are all potential risks that can detract from your overall performance. You will need to weigh these factors up against the respective benefits and then decide whether or not you feel it’s best to approach your interviewer(s) before/ or at the start of the interview and ask them to allow you to take notes

Correctly taking notes
There is no definitive way to correctly take notes – this is mainly because it’s down to an individual’s preference and is determined largely by subjective factors like the time you have available, the tone and content of what is being said, plus the context in which this content is conveyed to you. With this being the case, there are still some guidelines you should follow when practicing effective notetaking during an interview

To effectively take notes during an interview you should focus on important facts and key focal points only
Keep everything you write brief and concise and try to pay close attention to the wider interview going on around you at all times
You need to use a combination of active listening, eye contact, and your own good judgement whenever notetaking during an interview

Making eye contact
Good eye contact constitutes a crucial part of your body language when attending any type of interview. This is something that should come naturally and intuitively when you are conversing with your interviewer, in much the same way that you would make eye contact with a person in any normal conversation. It is very important to look at the interviewer directly and make regular eye contact both when speaking, and when being spoken to, by your interviewer(s).
When attending a group interview, it is also important to remember that you’re there to impress the interviewers, not other members of the group. If you are responding to a point that one of the group members has made, it would be rude not to make eye contact with them; but don’t draw unnecessary emphasis to that individual by making too much eye contact – instead shift your gaze around the other members of the group, and try to focus most of your attention on the interviewers themselves. Make yours a commanding presence in the interview room by the power of your gaze

Project your voice properly
Another way you can effectively impose yourself over the group is through the power of your voice. The way you would speak to an interviewer in a one-on-one interview is slightly different from a group or panel interview. That’s because in a one-on-one interview your interviewer is seated straight across from you, so while you would speak assertively and confidently there is no need to speak in an elevated tone. However, in a group or panel interview, there are more people involved and they are all seated further away from you and from each other too, and on top of that, there is usually alot more going on. This is especially true in group interviews where you may regularly have people interrupting each other or trying talk to over you, or in stress panel interviews where various interviewers will fire multiple questions at you, sometimes before you’ve properly finished answering the last one. In these types of scenarios, it is especially helpful to project your voice in a louder, and/or deeper tone. This will give you a more dominating presence in the interview room, making you easier to hear, and also making it less likely that others will try to interrupt or talk over you

Make yourself heard
It is crucial that in any group interview you are seen as a participant, and not simply as part of the group. A group interview is very fast paced, so it can be both intimidating and quite challenging to make yourself heard and because of this many people can be quite taken aback when participating in one for the first time

While the standard advice is to always be polite, and that it is best practice to try not to talk over others; the fast pace and tempo of the discussion may make this impractical at certain points during this type of interview if you want to contribute meaningfully. In a group interview someone might cut in over you in mid-sentence, they might talk over each other – and while the interviewer will mark down those who do this, (unless it’s excessive), it will certainly not exclude them from consideration. However, not being heard, not contributing enough, and not participating in the discussion will definitely get you excluded from consideration for selection

Therefore, the advice is simple: when attending a group interview you should prioritise getting noticed by your interviewers and participating in the conversation over being polite. Your goal is to be one of the main people involved in the group discussion so that at the end of it yours will be one of the names the interviewer selects – and realistically this will normally mean a degree of verbal jostling with other members of the group as you compete with them for openings in the discussion to get your points across

Remember that while engaging in a passionate discussion is fine because the interviewer is looking for you to get involved and share your opinion – under no circumstance should you get into an open argument with other group members as this is a sure way to lose your chance at being selected in a group interview

If you do find yourself getting into a heated debate with another group member, using humour, or putting on a professional face and diplomatically conceding the point, are great tactics you can use that will both show the interviewer how well you can handle pressure, as well as diffuse the situation at the same time

Tactics for the Group Interview
People choose to approach the group interview in different ways. Because of the communal aspect involved, and because of the participation of the other candidates in the interview with you, it makes the group interview a very different type of interview indeed. For this reason, there are varying types of tactics that people employ both before and during the group interview to try maximising their chances of success

One of the tactics sometimes employed before the start of a group interview is to try talking with your fellow candidates in the reception area before the interview starts. This is seen as useful because it may help build a rapport with some of the other candidates, which can then make it easier for you to establish a presence once you get into the interview room. There is also the upshot that the interviewer might see you talking with the other candidates before the interview begins, which will reflect perfectly on you as a person who is talkative and outgoing, and who gets on well with others
Refer to everyone by name if you can, including the other candidates. This is a great tactic to use, and it will make you sound a lot more outgoing and in control throughout the entire interview. Remember that you can try using a notepad to take everyone’s name and where they are sitting if it’s permitted
Bring other people into the conversation – This is a great way to showcase your leadership skills and is a sure way to score big points with the interviewers who will certainly take note if you do. If you observe someone who seems shy or has been unusually quiet over the course of the interview, speak up and tell everyone that you’d like to hear their opinion on the current topic being discussed by the group. By being inclusive in this way it tells everyone that you not only value the input of others, but that you are engaged in the conversation, that you have a self-confident and authoritative personality, and that you have the relevant leadership abilities to manage and direct people in challenging situations. This is a sure way to stand out and put yourself ahead of the other candidates if used shrewdly once or twice throughout the course of your next group interview
When the interviewer asks the group a question, ideally you want to try and be the first one to answer. It’s always good if your voice is the first one that the interviewer(s) hear. This way your input into the discussion is guaranteed to get noticed, as opposed to later in the discussion where it may be less noticeable amongst the choir of voices in the room. It also means you get a little bit of uninterrupted time to get your point across before the discussion starts to intensify
A big advantage of the group interview is that if you are struggling to think of something to say, you can let others answer first, and then build your answer on the back of what someone else has said. Sometimes it is as simple as agreeing with what the person before you has said, (a group interview is as much about being heard and establishing a presence throughout the interview as it is about the quality of your answers themselves. When building on the back of another person’s input, mentioning that person by name is always a good practice. For example, ‘I believe that what Alex said is correct, however, to expand on this point I would do A, B, C also’.
Remember that it is okay to disagree with the group consensus, as long as you can give a credible rationale for doing so. However, be wary of doing this too many times over the course of the interview. (This follows one of the cardinal rules of interviewing – keep everything positive)
If you’re struggling to get into the conversation but are unsure about what to say, just remember that any sort of answer that gets you heard and involved in the discussion is always more advantageous in a group interview than sitting quietly for long periods while you think of something insightful to say
Always thank the interviewer at the end and enquire into the next steps if you are successful
For a group interview, you should always come prepared with one or 2 questions to ask. These should be based around the field you are interviewing for, and you should put some thought into these as ideally you want them to stand out from the questions other candidates in the group are asking:

Some good examples would be: What are you looking for in the ideal candidate? What personal qualities does it take to succeed in this industry? What would you say is the most challenging aspect of working in this role? For some more great examples of inspirational questions to ask at your next group interview, see Interview Professionals Top List of Questions for the Interviewer

What you can expect at the Group Interview
A group interview will consist of upwards of 12 candidates and will usually be facilitated by more than one interviewer, although this isn’t always the case. When you attend a group interview, what normally happens is that first the interviewer(s) will introduce themselves, then after that, each candidate will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves too. Once the introductions are finished the interview may then go in one of several different directions, this will depend on how your particular group interview has been structured, as there are several different types of activities that can be conducted as part of a group interview, and we will examine some of the main ones below:

The Group Discussion
One of the most common activities in a group interview is the group discussion. This is where your interviewer will introduce a topic, problem, or scenario for discussion. They will then observe the group and the interactions amongst the various candidates as you discuss the scenario amongst yourselves.

Remember that in many of these activities, your interviewers are equally, if not more so, interested in how you interact with the group and participate in the discussion more than they are with the actual answers you give. They may also interject from time to time at points where they want to introduce a new question or add additional information to the scenario

The Group Activity
Another thing your interviewer(s) might do is assign a task or presentation for you to complete as a group. Again, especially in this type of scenario, the interviewer will be assessing you on your participation. They will be particularly interested to see how you contribute and move the team toward its objective. Assignments in the group activity can vary considerably and will be dependent on the type of role you are applying for; these can range from simple team building exercises to comprehensive presentations about the company, its products, its services, and more

The Group Project
Your interviewer may give the group a project to complete. This will be with a specific goal in mind – such as creating a budgeting plan, marketing an existing product or service, or coming up with an outline for the implementation of a new product or service into the marketplace. With a group project, the interviewer will focus more on assessing the quality of your input than in other types of activities, but will still also focus heavily on how much you participate and are involved in the overall group dynamic as well

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP INTERVIEW

Scenario 1
The interviewer has put forward a question to the group and has directed you to discuss it amongst yourselves while they observe your responses

How has the services that our company offers managed to make it successful?

What is this question
The interviewer is looking for you to get involved in the discussion and provide direction and meaningful input into the overall group narrative

How to Answer
The most important part of your success in the group interview will be largely determined not only by the quality of your answers, but by your level of involvement and participation within the discussion itself. Try and take control of the group by following the tactics outlined for the group interview in the section above – there are a couple of great ways you can do this such as referring to everyone in the group by name, and by bringing other people into the discussion as well. Try to be the first one who answers whenever the interviewer puts a new topic or question to the group, as this is a sure way to get noticed by your interviewer(s). Keep your comments focused on the task or subject you have been given and do your best to get involved in the discussion by being confident and assertive when putting your points across

Where someone answers before you, give your input by agreeing with, or expanding on, that other person’s point of view, ensuring you give your own rationale as to why you agree or disagree with their viewpoint. Or, you can offer your own alternative point of view instead. Remember that the interviewer will be watching to see how well you interact with the others in the group and what candidates amongst you are able to direct the discussion the most, as well as who among you seems to be most involved in the discussion overall

Example
‘In my opinion, you were able to correctly identify the demand for the services you provide, and you’ve also targeted your services at the correct demographic in the marketplace. On top of this, after your initial successes, you’ve taken bold steps to reinvest heavily in your infrastructure, and I believe it’s all of these things combined that have made your company the success it is today’.

Scenario 2
The interviewer has introduced a product, service, or scenario to the group and wants you to discuss this amongst yourselves while observing your responses

How would you market this product?

What is this question
The interviewer is looking for you to get involved in the discussion and provide meaningful insight and direction into the overall group narrative

Example
‘I would seek to identify and then target the correct demographic for this product. Once identified, I would then come up with a marketing strategy that could be implemented effectively. TV and online advertisements would be two of the main methods I would consider as studies have shown these are the most effective channels to reach prospective customers on. I would also research my competitor’s marketing techniques as well. My long-term objective would be to build a successful brand around this product with a view to further extending the product range later down the line’.

Scenario 3
The interviewer has introduced a product, service, or scenario to the group and after having observed you discussing this amongst yourselves, now wants your input as to how you feel working together as a team has helped you accomplish this

What were the main steps this group took to achieve its objective?

What is this question
The interviewer is looking for you to get involved in the discussion and provide meaningful insight and direction into the overall group narrative. They are also looking for evidence that you’ve understood the purpose of the objective you were given and that you’re able to identify how your team has gone about achieving it

Example
‘I believe we were able to achieve our objective because we stayed focused on the task we were given. We listened to each other, and most importantly I feel we supported each other with the observations and comments we made, to me it felt like each person’s input seemed to build on the next – which was a large factor in the decisions we took that enabled us to successfully complete our objective’.

Scenario 4
The interviewer has introduced a product, service, or scenario to the group and has asked you to complete a group presentation around this. Upon its completion, they have now asked you to reflect upon the outcome of this presentation

What were the main challenges you encountered when completing this task?

Example
‘I agree with what Paliv said regarding the difficulty we faced trying to get everyone to cooperate on the same thing. This made moving forward with our project outline very difficult. To expand on this though, I think that once we agreed on our project outline, we capitalized on it brilliantly by utilizing an effective time management strategy. From my own perspective, I felt we could’ve listened to each other more, although this might also have been due to the fact that we haven’t worked together as a team before and lacked the cohesion we would otherwise have had’.

Scenario 5
The interviewer has put forward a question to the group and has directed you to discuss it amongst yourselves while they observe your responses. Upon conclusion of this, they now want your thoughts on what went well in this discussion with a view to the teamwork that was exhibited amongst the various members of your group

What is the thing you liked most about working with the members in your group?

What is this question
The interviewer is looking for you to get involved in the discussion and provide meaningful insight and direction into the overall group narrative. The interviewer wants to get an understanding of how well you can bond as part of a team, and is also looking to see that you have engaged and identified with the group dynamic

Example
‘For me, hearing other people’s views and perspectives was the part I liked the most, in particular, I thought the idea about customer incentive schemes was quite insightful. I would also like to say that I thought it was difficult for some of the group to get into the conversation at times, as some of our group were talking over each other. I am interested to hear what Bob has to say as he made a good point earlier when we were going over the challenges associated with upholding financial conduct regulations, but I don’t feel he got the chance to expand on it, and I would like to bring him into the discussion now…Bob, what do you think…?’.

Now that you’ve seen some of the most common questions asked in the group interview and the most effective ways to answer them, next, why not have a look at the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview in the link at the bottom of the page

INTERVIEW PROFESSIONAL’S – RECOMMENDED PREPARATION STEPS FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW