How to Stand Out in a Group Interview

Group interviews are popular among companies because it allows the employers to get more accomplished in one sitting. Employers also value group interviews because it allows them to see how well you perform under pressure. These interviews can be a nightmare for the unprepared candidate. You don’t want to seem too aggressive; however you don’t want to be too passive. What is the fine line between saying just enough to show you’re knowledgeable and being overshadowed by the other candidates in the interview? How do you show all interviewers that you are equally interested? Don’t fear UT Career Services is here! Here we will discuss some great tips for succeeding at group interviews and feeling comfortable while doing so. 

The same rules apply when preparing for a group interview as does a regular interview. Before going into a group interview (or any interview) you want to make sure you’ve done your research on the company or organization for which you are interviewing. This will come in handy when asked questions that pertain to why you want to be an employee of the company. You want to be prepared to answer behavioral questions as well as have a list of questions prepared to ask the employers when given the opportunity.

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If your group interview has more than one interviewee:

 

Be sure to maximize on questions in which everyone is given the opportunity to answer. For a shy person this can be your moment to shine. If you’re not a shy person then by all means tackle the question head on. If you are not quite the talkative person and are afraid of not standing out in a group interview see this as an opportunity to step out of your shell a little. It may be less intimidating for you if you expound on what others are saying in the interview so that you do not feel as if you are taking over the interview and not giving anyone else a chance to speak. Keep in mind that you could be competing with aggressive people who may not have much regard for others in the interview so it is essential that you make it your mission to be heard. Group interviews can work in your favor if you show that how well you can serve the company.
 

If your group interview as more than one interviewer:

 

You want to find out as much information as you can about the panel you will be interviewing with. Feel free to ask for their job titles and possibly departments if that information has not already been given. It is a good idea to connect with all interviewers. This can be done by making eye contact with the individual who asked the question but also periodically looking around to the other interviewers to show that you understand that they are a part of this process as well. Be sure to pay attention to group dynamics. Make note of how well the group interacts. Finally, when given the opportunity to pose questions you may gear them towards a person’s specific title or department.