Group interview vent
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Even if this makes you not want the job, go do the interview just so you have the experience of the group interview - you may find your dream job down the line and they want a group interview to start. Interview practice is always a good learning opportunity
Echo @Zaza they could be hiring multiple candidates and it could be your opportunity to shine. Group interviews can be useful to see how you’d integrate in a team as well as to assess transferable skills and sometimes even the technical skills you’d need for the job. Eg. the group could be set the same task (job related), who does it quickest, who does it best, who helps the others, who innovates, who learns the most and who lied on their application because they can’t do it at all etc. My experience is group interviews are not at all about making it impersonal and interviewing more people at once. They usually take much more time and more effort to assess everyone because you’re looking for their responses as well as their interactions with others. I don’t think you should skip the opportunity if it’s a job you’re passionate about. If you are not given the chance to interview independently at some point in the day and you feel that’s where you’d excel then just request it.
As a manager, a lot of the time at interviews you don’t get a real flavour for who the person is and how they will actually perform and communicate with others while they are in the role. We all (myself included) rehearse for interviews if it’s a job we really want and try and anticipate what they might ask so you can give that “textbook” answer. Some of the best interviews I’ve had is when I’ve not over prepared and went in and been myself and I’ve always been offered those jobs. The group interview will let the employers see how you communicate, if you are a good listener, if you are considerate of others, how you respond to different opinions rather than just ask you how you do it and get a textbook response. Don’t worry if you’re not outgoing. The best teams have a mix of personal qualities. People who say the most are not always the best. Just go and be yourself and see it as a great opportunity to demonstrate what a great candidate you are! ❤️ x
Do your due diligence - read up on the company and their values, what type of service they offer, what their priorities are and that way you’re going in with that knowledge base to base your responses on in the group situation. Don’t feel the need to speak all the time in the group but take care to listen to what is asked, hear what others have to say and ask them questions, agree, disagree respectfully and if it’s a question you feel confident about don’t be scared to ask to speak first and that will show your leadership skills but also demonstrate that you don’t just steamroll in because you want your voice to be heard. The people who come across as know it alls will be setting off alarm bells in the hiring managers mind. It’s not about how much you say, but the quality and not being afraid to respectfully disagree or come to a compromise with the strongest voices in the group. You will do great, try not to overthink xx
It could be an interview to see your team work skills and how your work and bounce of others and a skill set test, and like others have said usually the actual interview is individual, I'd still go as it's always nice to have options even if you decide later not to take it
As others said. It could be an observation on your interactions, confidence , respect etc for others. I don’t think it’s to save time !
Believe me… some employers don’t want the “outgoing types”… wether they feel threatened or whatever (because they’ll never tell you why you didn’t get the job); just be yourself and don’t try to ‘compete’ with the other candidates… you honestly never know what the employers are looking for.
I’m currently in a position that I had been wanting for YEARSSSSSS. The interview was also a group interview and they ended up hiring majority of the people there that day. I only say this because yes I do agree that group interviews are not my preference but maybe they’re planning to hire in large amounts. If it’s a position you really want I don’t know if I would let a group interview deter me from going. Best of luck 💛
Some group interviews later break up into individual interviews during the day. They may just want to see how people interact in a group… who is the loud one.. who listens more… who leads… who contributes… they will be looking at different things. And there could be more than one position available so they may offer more than one person. You should go and just show up as your best self. Don’t try to be something ur not. If the role is meant for u, it’s already yours and if it’s not meant for you then so be it. You’ll never know if you don’t try.