How to Manage a Group Interview

In a former profession, I was invited to a group interview after being laid off from my previous job. I walked into a room with five people, all unsmiling other than the primary interviewer. After quick introductions, with names I quickly forgot, the representative from Human Resources provided an overview of how the interview would go and turned it over to an older man to ask the first question. When I say older, I mean he was probably the age I am now, twenty-five or so years later. I’ll never forget the first question.

“Tell us what you know about X”, he asked. Well, X was a huge topic. Not quite like asking “tell us what you know about the universe” but it felt close. I asked the questioner if he’d like to make his question more specific and he said no. I, of course, mumbled through some sort of reply while wishing I’d just gotten up and left. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.

Even if you haven’t participated in one yet, group interviews are common, so it pays to be prepared. Here are a few ways to effectively manage the experience.

Remember names. It can be difficult to remember everyone’s name in a group interview so be sure to repeat the name and then jot it down in your notes. Your interviewers will form a closer bond with you if you mention their name in your response: “Well, Nancy, when I was working at …”.

Ignore the negative. As in any interview you want to remain positive and smile when appropriate. However, some people in a group interview will not want to be there. They do not like interviews and wish they were back at their desk getting some work done. They might let you know of their displeasure by glancing at their watch, sighing, looking at their mobile phone, and exuding a general sense of unhappiness. Do your best to focus on the smiling, pleasant people in an interview. They will help provide you with energy while the others will bring you down and remove your focus.  

Move on. Don’t be troubled by one question or your response to it. You never know exactly how your response was received by another person so even if you think you answered poorly, it’s possible the interviewer will forget all about by the time the interview is complete. Do your best to think about each new question and forget about making judgments about your interview until you’re on your way home. Ultimately, you won’t know how you were perceived until you hear back from the company.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Tips for Job Interviews

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below Brian Tracy provides some interviewing tips to get your dream job. Watch the video for some useful tips.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Growing Your Job and Unleashing Creativity

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 6 Ways to Grow Your Job: "When a new project is simply not available, look for roles outside your group or organization that allow you to learn and practice new skills and raise your profile. Teach, speak or blog on topics relating to your interests."

• The Incivility Crisis in America: "Americans are working longer hours as wages stay stagnate and the job market remains weak, so it’s not surprising that tensions in the workplace are running high. The problem is these tensions can often result in frustration and interpersonal conflict leading to toxic work environments."                                                      
• 8 Interview Tips You've (Probably) Never Heard Before: "Experienced hiring managers who have interviewed many candidates will often say they don't get nervous at their own job interviews anymore, because they've done so many interviews from the other side and understand how an interviewer's mind works."


• How to Get Unstuck and Unleash Your Creativity Today: "There’s nothing wrong with strategically mitigating risk, but brilliant bodies of work are built by those who are willing to take the small, calculated risks necessary to take new ground."


• 6 Ways I Find and Hire Hardworking Millennials: "Remember, everyone announces themselves in the interview. I learned this the hard way when I ignored my gut response and hired a young woman who made me feel uncomfortable in the interview."

Outrageous Interview Mistakes that Include Lessons for Everyone - Part 2

On Tuesday's blog entry, I started the outrageous interview blunders list. This was inspired by recent news stories about just how little new college graduates know about the interviewing process. However, this is not a new trend, these outrageous stories have gone on - and will continue to go on - for years!

In 2011, www.careerbuilder.com did a survey of 2,400 hiring manager about the most damaging and most common mistakes that were made by interviewees. You can find the entire article here, but these are their top issues:

• Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview – 71 percent
• Dressing inappropriately – 69 percent
• Appearing disinterested – 69 percent
• Appearing arrogant – 66 percent
• Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer – 63 percent
• Chewing gum – 59 percent
• Not providing specific answers – 35 percent
• Not asking good questions – 32 percent 

Let's look at a few more situations that I have experienced and see what we can learn from some of these common mistakes.

Mistake: I unwittingly walked into an interview taking place in a remotely located museum. The interviewee was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. He was sitting sideways in a chair with armrests and had one leg casually thrown over the arm. He looked as though he did not have a care in the world!

Lesson: It is estimated that up to 40% of your success in an interview is based on packaging - a combination of your appearance and body language. As I mentioned on Tuesday, 93% of how we communicate with the world is non-verbal. In an interview, do a "body language check" every few minutes to make sure you are sending the right message. Posture should be professional; sit up straight, hold your head high, and put your shoulders back to make a good impression.

Mistake: When I asked a candidate why they left their last job, they proceeded to rant for five minutes about how horrible it was to work for their previous company and boss.

Lesson: One of the reasons we ask this question in an interview is because you truly never know what people are going to open up their mouth and tell you. As a hard and fast rule, you should NEVER talk poorly about a former employer. No matter how much you feel you were in the right in the situation, telling a negative story about someone who is not there to defend themselves will always make you look like a "problem child." Instead, simply state that you decided to take your career in a new direction - this answer fits most every situation, from being terminated to a toxic work environment.

Outrageous Interview Mistakes that Include Lessons for Everyone - Part 1

It is always fun to hear the stories of the outrageous and downright bizarre behavior that interviewers experience. We laugh at those mistakes and say, "I would never behave that way in an interview." However, each of us make our own mistakes, of varying degrees of severity in interviews. Let's look at a few of the most outrageous stories I have heard or experienced, and see what we can learn from others' mistakes.

Mistake: I was once told a story by an HR person of an interviewee who answered their cell phone during the interview and proceeded to get in a fight with the person on the phone - in the middle of the interview! When the conversation was over, instead of apologizing and returning to the interview, they placed a call to someone else and began to tell them the story of the fight. The HR person explained that at that point they simply escorted them out of their office as they were still talking on the phone.

Lesson: Let's face it, many of us are addicted to our cell phones, laptops, and tablets. Any free time is spent surfing the internet, playing games, or updating our Facebook status. Never take out your electronic device and start using it - even when waiting in the lobby to be called back for the interview. Instead, use this time to review your notes and mentally prepare for the upcoming interview. Your cell phone should be turned off, or better yet left in the car, during the interview. Even if it is on vibrate, it can still be heard when it rings.

Mistake: A male candidate I was interviewing showed up for the interview wearing chipped black nail polish, wearing rumpled clothing that looked as though he slept in it, and reeking of alcohol.

Lesson: Keep in mind that 93% of our communication with the world around us is non-verbal. Your image should send a clear message of professionalism and competence. People form a first impression in the first 7 seconds they meet you and this is largely based on visual appearance. Make a solid first impression by paying attention to the details of your clothing, grooming, and body language. Get a good night's sleep before your interview and avoid alcohol the night before.

Mistake: When I asked a candidate "Why should I hire you?" their answer was "Because I need a job." They went on to talk about how they were going through a divorce and were behind on all their utilities, rent, and credit card payments.

Lesson: Companies are looking to hire the most cost-effective person as opposed to the person who NEEDS the job the most. When an employer is interviewing you for an job, they want to feel as though you have chosen to work for their company, not as though you are simply looking for a job - any job. Do your research and try to find the motivation behind why the company is hiring; find out what problems or needs they may have. Clearly identify the value you can bring to the company in terms of what benefits you can achieve for the organization. Remember, instead of focusing on your needs, talk about the value you can bring to the company.

Check back on Thursday for more interview mistakes and lessons!

Tips for Success in Group Interviews

Interviews are often a one-on-one experience or a panel setting where you meet with several members of the company at the same time. However, there are many companies out there that use the group interview concept to screen and select candidates.

The group interview is used to evaluate how the candidate interacts in a group setting. They are used evaluate your social and communication skills and they look at how you can stand out from the crowd in that group setting. They can be a fun and exciting experience and provide valuable insight into the company's culture. Use these tips to ensure your success.

• Don't treat the other candidates as competition - even though they really are. Instead of competing with the other candidates, treat them as you would potential co-workers.

• Make eye contact with the other candidates as you answer your questions. Compliment others' answers and point out areas that you have in common. Use their answers as a springboard to add information of your own.

• Don't hog the spotlight. Give other people time to speak and answer questions. It is never a good idea to make yourself look good at the expense of others.

• Try to be the best dressed in the room. Pay special attention to your attire, your grooming, and your body language to make a positive impression.

• Evaluate the other candidates and find a way to set yourself apart from the crowd. You do not want to blend or fit into the crowd, you want to subtly set yourself apart.