Group interview

trailingspouse

'Trial by lunch' - love it.


When you think about it (and I've been thinking about it a lot), the group interview is the exact opposite of team work. In a team, you all (theoretically) want the same goal. In a group interview, you all want different goals (ie, you all want to be the one who gets the job, so if there are 6 candidates, there are 6 different goals!). Which makes it Very Difficult Indeed to show your team working abilities!
I know a bit more about it now - we'll be given a list of 12 expected 'employee behaviours' and be asked to discuss which are the 4 most important ones. Quite philosophical!! Building things with lego might be more fun...
I think I might have a tendency to be the one who takes over - will need to guard against that!

parking_question_chap

Basically

Speak clearly
Never dominate the conversation, but dont hide either.
Try and add valid points or respond to the previous speaker
Think about tone of voice and body language
Demonstrate you have listened to others
Be positive

Really they will not be expecting the world, its a shop job, they just need to see you are able to hold a conversation, be polite and are not a moron. The very fact you have posted on here and done so clearly indicates you will be fine.

I will also say turn up dressed smartly.

rach_k

It was years ago but the only group interview I've attended was for a job in retail. I believe they asked a few general questions but the main thing I remember was being told to go onto the shop floor to pick a product for a fictional customer - they gave us some info about them. We then had to come back and explain to the group what we'd picked and why. They also asked us to sell the group an item, something stupid like a pen. They were just checking we weren't complete idiots, I suspect.

trailingspouse

Thanks all. Had the interview today, will find out one way or the other within 48 hours.


The group bit was interesting - and there was a guy who was determined to be noticed, wouldn't let anyone get a word in edgeways, and wouldn't back down even when we'd all (everso politely) told him he was wrong on one particular point. I honestly don't mind who gets the job - 'anyone but him'...


But all in all I felt I'd done OK - I'm not sitting here thinking about all the things I wished I'd said, so that's a good sign. We'll see.

DCFC79

Thanks for coming back.
That's good you feel confident about it.
I'm not a fan of group interviews but I see the purpose

trailingspouse

Thanks for all your help, good people of MSE-land. Looks like I didn't get it - they said we'd hear within 48hours, and that was up at about 3:30 this afternoon.

Manxman_in_exile

trailingspouse wrote: »

Thanks for all your help, good people of MSE-land. Looks like I didn't get it - they said we'd hear within 48hours, and that was up at about 3:30 this afternoon.

You never know 'til you hear.