How do Group Interviews Work – 7 Things You Should Know

7 Things You Should Know When Conducting Group Interviews

Now that you know a bit more about group interviews and their benefits, let’s take a look at our tips for conducting successful group interviews.

1. Define the purpose of the interview

Before starting the group interview process, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve.

What skills or qualities are you looking for in the candidates?

What type of role are you hiring for?

By defining the purpose of the interview, you’ll be able to design questions and activities that will help you assess the candidates and determine whether they would be a good fit for your organization.

Suppose you’re looking to hire app developers for a new project. Your purpose for the group interview might be to assess the candidates’ technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills.

With this information, you can design questions and activities that will help you determine whether each candidate is a good fit for your team and the project.

Some common questions and activities you might design for a group developer interview include coding challenges, brainstorming exercises, and role-playing scenarios.

You may also have the candidates complete a problem-solving task together to assess their teamwork skills.

By clearly defining the purpose of your group interview, you can ensure that each activity is tailored to help you identify the best candidates for the job.

2. Prepare a list of questions

Preparation is key when conducting group interviews.

Make sure to prepare a list of questions that will allow you to assess the candidates in a meaningful way.

Consider incorporating both individual and group tasks, as well as open-ended and situational questions. This will give you a well-rounded view of each candidate’s skills and abilities.

For example, if you want to assess the candidates’ problem-solving skills, consider including a group task where the candidates have to work together to solve a hypothetical problem.

You could also include individual questions that assess their technical knowledge and ability to think critically.

By including a combination of group and individual tasks, you’ll get a well-rounded view of each candidate’s skills and abilities.

Here are some example questions you could include in your group interview:

• Describe a time when you had to work with others to solve a complex problem.
• What do you feel are the most important traits for successful app development?
• How would you go about debugging an unfamiliar codebase?
• Let’s say we gave you a coding task. How would you approach solving it?

TIP: Prepare for any group interview quickly and easily with our database of interview questions.

3. Choose an appropriate location

The location of the group interview is important, as it can impact the atmosphere and dynamics of the interview.

Choose an area that is quiet and free from distractions, and ensure there is enough space for all the candidates to participate comfortably.

If possible, consider setting up the room in a way that promotes collaboration and teamwork, such as with a round table or chairs arranged in a circle.

Consider using the best video conference room setup to ensure a smooth and professional interview experience if you’re interviewing remotely.

When choosing the location of the group interview, it’s important to consider that some candidates may need to travel from out of town or even internationally.

In such cases, providing remote options such as video conferencing can be helpful.

Additionally, if you need to contact a candidate after the interview and you only have their phone number, you could search for them on Facebook using that number.

Facebook has a feature that allows you to find someone by phone number on Facebook, which can be a useful tool for recruiters.

4. Address interview bias

It’s important to be aware of the potential for interview bias when conducting group interviews.

Bias can creep in when you unconsciously favor or discriminate against certain candidates based on their appearance, background, or other factors.

To avoid interview bias, make sure to establish clear criteria for evaluating the candidates and try to be as objective as possible when assessing their skills and abilities.

For example, suppose you’re conducting a group interview for a sales position.

To avoid interview bias, you might establish clear criteria for evaluating the candidates, such as their ability to communicate effectively, their experience in sales, and their ability to work well under pressure.

By establishing these criteria ahead of time, you can ensure that you are evaluating the candidates objectively and fairly.

Additionally, it’s essential to provide the same interview experience for each candidate to avoid bias. This means asking the same questions and giving each candidate the same amount of time to answer.

You should also avoid making assumptions about a candidate based on their appearance, education, or other factors that are not relevant to the job.

It’s important to focus solely on the candidate’s qualifications and suitability for the job.

It’s also helpful to have a diverse interview panel when conducting group interviews to ensure a fair evaluation of candidates.

When a panel is diverse, the chances of interview bias occurring decrease significantly.

Having different perspectives and experiences on the panel can help to identify unique skills and talents that a single interviewer may have overlooked.

Lastly, it’s crucial to evaluate your interview process continually.

This can involve reviewing the criteria used to evaluate candidates, the interview questions asked, and the overall interview experience.

By doing so, you can identify potential sources of bias and make necessary changes to ensure a fair and unbiased interview process.

Continual evaluation can also help you to improve the effectiveness of your group interview process and ensure that you hire the best candidates for the job.

5. Ensure your QA Process flow addresses preparation for the company and role

Source: twinemployment.com

This underlines the importance of including preparation for the company and role as part of your quality assurance (QA) process flow.

When conducting group interviews, it’s crucial to clearly understand the company culture, job responsibilities, and the skills and abilities required for the role.

You should communicate this information to the candidates beforehand so they have the opportunity to research and prepare.

During the interview, your QA process flow should include questions to assess the candidates’ understanding of the company and the role, as well as their interest and enthusiasm for the position.

For instance, during a group interview for a sales role, you might consider including questions such as:

• Can you share your understanding of our company and what we do?
• What drew you to this role, and why do you think you would be a good fit for our company and sales team?
• Can you describe your knowledge of the sales process and how you see yourself fitting into this process as a sales representative?

TIP: Create informative job descriptions that speed up the interview process with our range of job description templates.

6. Consider the group dynamics

Group interviews can bring about unique dynamics as candidates interact with one another.

While some may shine in a group setting, others may struggle to assert themselves.

As a result, it’s crucial to consider the group dynamics when conducting group interviews.

When planning for a group interview, consider the size of the group and the types of personalities and skill sets represented.

You should aim to create a balanced group that includes a mix of introverted and extroverted candidates, as well as a range of skills and experiences.

This will allow you to get a complete picture of each candidate and will also provide an opportunity for candidates to learn from one another and showcase their strengths.

Some more tips for understanding and dealing with group dynamics during an interview include:

• Establish clear expectations: Set ground rules for the group to ensure everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations, such as setting a timeline for when questions will be asked and answered.
• Allow each candidate to speak without interruption: Encourage candidates to listen actively and take turns speaking rather than talking over one another.
• Provide opportunities for candidates to ask each other questions: This will help foster an environment of collaboration and give you a sense of how well they’ll work together in the future.
• Observe how candidates interact with one another: Pay attention to how the group is interacting so that you can get a better sense of each candidate’s ability to work in a team setting.

7. Utilize software integration tools

Conveying clear and accurate information is essential in creating a positive interview experience for candidates.

By utilizing software integration tools, recruiters and HR leaders can mitigate this risk and ensure that all necessary information is communicated effectively to candidates.

Software integration tools offer a variety of features that can assist with scheduling, communication, and collaboration during group interviews.

For example, a software integration tool can be used to schedule and confirm interviews, send out reminders, and keep track of interview feedback and scores.

Furthermore, you can use tools such as an applicant tracking system to manage the recruiting and hiring process efficiently.