Employers use many types of interview to narrow down the candidate field and the group interview is one of them. Group interviews can consist of multiple candidates interviewed simultaneously, or a panel from the company interviewing one person individually.
Group interviews where a panel speaks to each candidate individually will be more common in the hiring process. However, upon occasion, you may be asked to interview alongside several of your competitors.
interviews by a panel group
A group interview conducted by a panel management team allows a number of your potential future colleagues to assess your skills at the same time. Such interviews can be unsettling to candidates given the size of the group asking questions. However, it could also be beneficial if you make a particularly good impression on one of the group.
Questions asked in this type of group interview will still likely include standard interview questions, so it's important to research, prepare and practice your answers beforehand. When coming into this type of interview, you should do your best to not act surprised. In addition, you should greet each member of the group and shift your attention from one to another regularly.
candidate group interviews
Some businesses employ another type of group interview in order to narrow down the candidate field, which involves bringing in a number of candidates to be interviewed at the same time. This may happen if the position has attracted a large number of candidates, which means standing out from the crowd will be a must.
Another aspect of candidate group interviews you should consider is the possibility of group activities. This will be used to show your potential employer how well you can cope working and communicating as part of a team.