Posted 2020/3/11
Some companies, especially those with large recruitment requirements for lesser skilled staff (larger retailers spring to mind), will sometimes opt for group interview and testing sessions that can last all day.
In this situation, you might be grouped together with up to 20 other people all looking for the same job.
This can be very disconcerting, depending on what type of personality you are. If you're at all shy or timid, these interviews will scare the life out of you, which is exactly why they are used.
By placing people in groups, the interviewers are trying to guage different personality types. They'll want to know if you're able to work as part of a team, or if you're likely to be assertive, disruptive, challenging of authority, timid, weak, quiet, shy, loud, aggressive - all the different things that working as part of group for a day will highlight.
In this situation, you have to consider it a bit like a game show, like Big Brother for example.
Observe what's going on in the group and pay attention to what the interviewer is explaining at each stage as the rules are established.
Pay close attention and if you are unsure about any aspect whatsoever, be sure to ask for clarification, not from other interviewees present, but from the interviewer - this is vitally important. You must recognise who's in charge.
To ask other team members is to be a sheep and shows weakness, so don't be afraid of looking silly by asking the interviewer, just ask. Remember what your teachers at school used to say? It's the same here.
As you'll be competing for a position with the oither team members, there might the odd temptation to try and assert your influence. There might even be exercises designed specifically so that people will do this.
It's important to remember to treat all others with respect whilst asserting yourself in any exercise. The interviewers will be looking for this as much as they will for assertiveness.
Power conflicts should be avoided, as should grouping up against other individuals in the team. You won't want to look uncoperative or unpleasant.
Always remain alert to what the interviewer is asking of you, since in this game, things are likely to change rapidly as they progress from one area to another.
The aim of these group interview sessions is to test various reactions including:
Assertiveness, leadership qualities, team working, team building, self-discipline, empathy with colleagues, accuracy, compliance to a company line, and other things.
