So You Want to Ace the Group Interview?

In the words of one of my professors, I'm a "recovering introvert". This means I'm trying new things, slowly coming out of my shell, and building much needed confidence and determination. I have a tendency to stick to the shadows while other (more extroverted) people claim the spotlight, lead conversations, and come up with all the jokes. I like to laugh along with people and follow conversations, but unless I know the person I'm talking to personally, I usually spend all my energy keeping up with social chatter rather than engaging in it. This means that I'm the typical 'fly-on-the-wall'. I observe more than participate. Although I'm slowly breaking these old social habits, certain situations bring my old self back to light. One of those certain situations is—yup, you guessed it. Group interviews. *cringe*

Group interviews aren't my strong suit, and I find them slightly unfair and biased, because let's face it, the loudest most in-your-face person usually gets the job. When I go to a group interview I can usually tell who will get the job. Since I'm not observing myself, I can't always tell how well I did in an interview. I make a mental note of which person talks first after every question the interviewer asks, which person makes the most jokes, and which person the interviewer seems to look at the most. All of these factors help me weed out potential opponents—yes I said opponents. Interviews are like a battle field. In most cases, there's only one winner. One person will claim victory and revel in the glory of their new job and envious paycheck.

But, no matter how much I don't like group interviews, it doesn't change the fact that they form a barrier between myself and the job of my dreams. So, I've decided to except the unfavourable environment of group interviews. I've stopped whining and moping about my lack of chances and disadvantages and I've created some tips that will help me every time I go into an interview.

So here are my tips for acing a group interview:

1. Practice!  Try coming up with potential interview questions when you have spare time and interview yourself. It might seem weird at first, but it's extremely helpful. Knowing the answer to interview questions prevents the “ums, uhs” and awkward pauses. Why say, “Let me think” when you can already know the answer. Also, searching websites like glassdoor.com is great for getting feedback from other people who've had an interview with the same company.
2. Be prepared/Do your homework. Don't forget your resume, references, and anything else you think you'll need. Also, it's a good idea to research the company if you don't know much about them. Interviewers almost always ask the question, “what do you know about the company?” While your researching, find something interesting or something that stands out about the company that would impress the interviewer when you answer the question.
3. Dress appropriate to the company's standards. Business casual is always a safe option. Some interviewers might tell you what to wear, but if not, something comfortable and business-like will be perfect. Don't over do it if it's not required, but don't under do it either. You definitely don't want to be the only one wearing jeans when everyone else is in dress pants/skirts and a dress shirt.
4. Show up earlier than everyone else. There's nothing wrong with being early. It gives you time to survey the area no matter what job you're interviewing for. This is great for retail opportunities, as you'll get more time to look around and test out products and get a working knowledge of the brands the store offers.
5. Talk to some of the current employees. If you think there's time, and the employees aren't busy, feel free to introduce yourself and ask them questions about the job. 9 times out of 10, they'll be able to give you valuable information, or at least take away some of your nerves by talking about their experience when they were interviewed.
6. Get to know the candidates. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to the other candidates. You'll get a sense of who's up for the position and what they have to offer. It will also ease your nerves to realize that they are people too and are in the same boat as you. When the interviewer walks out and sees you conversing and showing your people skills it might win you a few brownie points.
7. Let your confidence shine! This is your first impression on the interviewer. They don't know you, so they can only go on how you present yourself. Since there are other people in the room, try to be outgoing and maybe chime in and agree with something someone says after they're done talking. Don't be afraid to jump in when a question is asked. As I said before, usually the loudest person wins. This doesn't mean you have to be loud, but just be as enthusiastic as you can.
8. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. This shows how interested you are in the position. A starter question could be, “What brought you to this company/What made you decide to work here?
9. Ask for a business card. This also shows how interested you are; and the extra time that it takes for them to get the card can be used for a few conversational points.
10. Send a thank you note. When you go home, send a thank you card or email. It'll remind the interviewer how awesome and thoughtful you are. It'll also refresh their memory and help you stand out among the rest.
11. It's over; don't stress about it! Put your best self forward, and if you don't get the job, don't sweat it—move on to the next opportunity. The right job will come along.

Happy hunting!