Tips to Get You Through the Group Interview - Your Career Intel

Tips to Get You Through the Group Interview - Your Career IntelYouve networked, perfected your resume, written a fantastic titelseite letter and landed the bewerberinterview. Then you get thrown a curveball. Youve probably never even thought about how to prepare for a group interview but suddenly youre faced with one.Even scarier is walking into what you think will be a one-on-one interview and discovering on the spot that its going to be a group interview. As an executive recruiter helping candidates transition from military to civilian roles, I work with folks trained to keep their cool, but even vets get flustered by this scenario.However, this format which can include both multiple interviewers and multiple candidates is an increasingly popular tool companies use to expedite the interview process while getting a firsthand look at how you interact and work with others. To further this goal, you may even get thrown a group exercise of some kind in addition to traditional intervie w questions.No matter the format, you are being tasked with standing out in a crowd while showing off your qualifications. Its no easy task, but here are some tips for group interviews to help you stand out and move on to a one-on-one interview in the next round.DO stay cool under preskoranversOftentimes youll have no idea that youre walking into a group interview, so your first impression on the interviewer or interviewers will be how you handle this twist. Even if youre taken aback, be sure to appear calm and confident.DONT be repetitiveThe biggest no-no is repeating the same response another candidate has already given. Instead of repeating, build on the responses of your fellow interviewees with additional information or illustrative examples.DO play well with othersIts important to interact well with others and show that youre an asset in a team setting. Facilitating conversation within the group is a great way to demonstrate your confidence, leadership and social skills.DONT o verdo itTheres a fine line between showing leadership skills and being pushy so be sure to avoid interrupting or putting down others. Dominating the conversation raises a red flag that you may not be a team player.DO be memorableStock responses just wont cut it when youre trying to stand out in a crowd. No problem As part of your interview preparation, you probably brainstormed illustrative stories to demonstrate your strengths and experience, and these stories are perfect for setting yourself apart from the pack.DONT forget to listenWhen there are many competing voices, its tempting to focus on what you want to say and how to jump in, but listening is as important as speaking. Eye contact and engaged body language will be picked up on by the interviewer, and your responses will be more thoughtful if youre actively listening. Jot yourself a note if theres a point you want to make sure you remember to come back to.DO follow-upWith a lot of candidates in the mix, a strong follow up to each interviewer is especially important . Try to reference something memorable so that he or she can immediately recall who you are.Remember, even if you were caught off guard, all of these group interview tips dont change the fundamentals of interview preparation. Present yourself professionally, research the company, understand the lage and the attributes it requires, and prepare engaging responses.What tips and tricks have helped you stand out in a group interview? Share your experiences in the comments.

#MakingTime A Day in the Life of a San Fernando Valley-Based CEO and Working Mom

MakingTime A Day in the Life of a San Fernando Valley-Based CEO and Working Mom Women can do anything but not everything. As the largest online career community for women, we at Fairygodboss realize that balance is a myth, and that picking what to prioritize when everything feels important on a day-to-day basis isnt always easy. In the MakingTime series, women share with us how, for one day, they chose to spend their most precious resource time.--WhoDeborah SweeneyWhatCEO and Owner of MyCorporationWhere Calabasas, California--607 a.m.My alarm goes off and I dont hit snooze. Im already awake I do a 10-minute review of email to get a sense for anything urgent. Then, I meditate for one minute and focus on my top five items for which Im grateful that day. After that I pop up because I know I must wake up the boys and get ready for the day. My husband takes less time to get ready, so he makes breakfast and I pack lunches and bags for school and sports (we have two teenage sons). My husba nd and one son leave for middle school, followed by my older son and I departing at 710 a.m. for the high school.730 a.m.Weve made it to the school and now Im off to Pilates I take some calls en route to class.Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation750 a.m.I go through my email one more time before my class starts at 8 a.m. After an hour of Pilates, its time to get to the office910 a.m.I walk into work and make sure to say good morning to the kollektiv members by popping by each pod in the office. I move quickly and then take meetings from 930 1130 a.m.1130 a.m.With my meetings knocked out, its time to begin tackling my to-do list product management matters, revenue analysis, sales team strategies, training, and financials.I eat lunch at my desk during a virtual meeting, which I periodically put on mute to chew my food. Next, I work on a quick project for a partner and have a team meeting after that. I try to keep on track with the to-do list Ive created the prior night.2 p.m.A few of us decide to walk outside the office during an afternoon meeting because its a beautiful day here in Calabasas. I am working out on the floor of the office today its a better opportunity for me to engage with the team and to get a feel for how things are going.430 p.m.I leave the office to pick up my son from school. My husband and I meet at his office to trade kids, so I can go to the soccer practice that doesnt end as late. This will give me time to get home earlier and make dinner. During practice, I walk, email, and take two calls.8 p.m.Practice ends at 8 p.m., so we run home and I start making tacos for dinner. Its a family favorite. While Im making dinner, my sons are working on homework. I always have my laptop out during homework (the boys need me less and less for homework nowadays). Either way, Im there, and Im doing my own homework, too. I get through the project I need to handle, write content, answer email questions, strategize with partners, and focus on revenue op portunities. I work standing in the evenings I find it keeps me focused and moving.945 p.m.The four of us are upstairs and getting ready for bed around 945 p.m. I have my laptop with me upstairs for end of day check-in and to create my to-do list for the following day. I do a quick debrief in my head about all that Im thankful for, and by 11 I fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes.Interested in contributing to Fairygodboss MakingTime series? Email infofairygodboss.com with MakingTime in the subject line.