How To Prepare For A Group Interview

By Cynthia Chebet

Now that your job hunt has yielded some success and you have been called for an interview; you are doing all the necessary preparations to ensure you secure that Job.

There are various types of interviews employers use depending on the results they want. Group interviews are one of them and it is often used by employers in Kenya.

To ace this interview, you first need to understand why the employers use a group interview and what a group interview is.

Why Do Employers use a group interview?

• The point of employers using a group interview method is to see how candidates choose to stand out from each other.
• How do the candidates function in a group of new people? Do the candidates show teamwork attributes? These are the questions they seek to answer when they choose to use group interviews.

What is a Group Interview?

A group interview is a selection process where you get interviewed with multiple candidates, all at the same time.

You now have an idea of what a group interview is, next is the preparation part. For any type of interview, you need to do thorough preparation if you want to secure the job you applied to.

How Do you prepare for a group interview?

• Research the company- Learning about the company or the organization you applied to will help you answer the questions correctly during the interview. Employers usually test to see if you have taken a keen interest in what they do therefore expect a question from this.
• Prepare a self-introduction- introductions in interviews carry a lot of weight therefore you ought to prepare for a great one that will impress everyone in the room. Talk about yourself in sch a way that it will show your confidence.

Also Read >>> Interview Skills That Will Make Your First Impression Great

To pass a group interview, you need to stand out. The employer needs to see the skills that make you different from the others in terms of what you are going to offer the company.

How to stand out in a group interview

• Arrive early- do not just get there on time; get there before time so that you get yourself used to the environment. This will help you get relaxed thus avoiding anxiety during the interview.
• Listen Carefully- as the interviewer asks the questions, be very attentive so that you can give accurate answers. The same applies to the other interviewees’ talk; listen to what the have to say. This will help you gauge yourself and be able to come up with a strategy that will help you stand out when your turn to speak comes.
• Answer the questions first frequently- being the first to answer the questions more often than anyone else in the room will make you look like someone well prepared for the interview. It will also show your proficiency in the job in question
• Support your co-interviewees statements- this will show that you are a team player and it will also give the employer a rough idea of how your general thoughts are driven towards.
• Ask Brilliant questions- this will make you look the smartest in the room and this will create you a very impressive rapport with the interviewer.
• Smile and nod a lot – this shows that you are present both physically and mentally for the interview as well as creating comfort-ability with you and the employer.

Group interviews are not hard to handle, the only challenge is having to answer tough questions in front of a larger group. Train yourself to have self-confidence so that you do away with this challenge. Getting interview coaching services is one way you can go about your preparations to increase your chances of getting that job in Kenya.

All the best in your interview.