8 TIPS FOR TACKLING A GROUP INTERVIEW

We’ve covered numerous aspects of the face-to-face interview in this blog . . . but what if you’re faced with a group interview?

A group interview is just what it sounds like—a group of people interviewing you at the same time. As you might imagine, that can be an intimidating situation, especially if you don’t know about it beforehand. (Many times, you won’t be told beforehand because company officials want to see how you’ll react and respond to such a situation.)

Such a strategy makes sense. However, if you’re prepared for a group interview—whether you actually experience one or not—then you’ll be “ahead of the game.”

Below are eight tips for tackling a group interview. They’re grouped into two categories—tangible tips and intangible tips.

Four tangible tips for group interview success:

• Give a firm handshake to each interviewer and address each interviewer individually as they are introduced.
• Sit in a comfortable position, conveying alertness and attentiveness. Don’t appear too stiff or too lax in your posture.
• Make hand gestures if you feel the need to do so or if it will help you to illustrate a point, but try not to overdo it.
• In addition to thanking the interviewers collectively at the end, shake their hands individually and thank every interviewer by name, as well.

Four intangible tips for group interview success:

• Project confidence, a positive attitude, a high level of energy, and enthusiasm for the position and the possibility of working for the company.
• Smile as much as possible, but once again, not too much, so that it seems like you’re forcing it. You want to feel and appear relaxed.
• Maintain eye contact with each of the interviewers and attempt to build rapport with them.
• Use words with positive connotations, not words with uncertainty attached to them. Don’t use words and phrases such as “I think,” “I feel,” or “if.”

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These eight tips will help you to navigate the challenges that a group interview presents . . . especially if you don’t know that one is waiting for you.