The "group" in Group Interview can mean either a group of job applicants undergoing a group assessment, or a single job candidate meeting with a panel of interviewers. Obviously, the two situations are very different.

One of the reasons that employers screen job applicants in groups is that they want to see how individual candidates interact with other people. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in this setting is to try too hard to outshine the other applicants. You'll risk coming across as arrogant and uncooperative – a personality the employer won't want to bring on board. (You can bet that interpersonal skills are important to an employer who goes to the trouble of conducting this kind of interview.) The way to stand out in a group interview is to come prepared (by having researched the employer and the position beforehand) and being ready to ask informed questions. Being courteous but firm and focused in taking leadership of group exercises and discussions will also win points for you.

An employer who has you interview with two or more staff at the same time may be employing a version of the stress interview in which interviewers take turns firing questions at you, to see how you handle yourself under that pressure. The employer may also want to get two or more staff members' assessments of you under the same circumstances. On the other hand, the employer might simply want to make sure you understand how the position you are interviewing for fits in with other positions in the organization. The basic rule for doing well in these interviews is to come prepared, having both memorized your resume and researched the company, so that you'll be ready to answer rapid-fire questions and to ask smart questions of your own. Also remember to interact with everyone in the room. When you answer a question, speak to the person who asked it, but in the course of your answer be sure to make eye contact with the other interviewers as well, and be ready to shift your attention to the next person who addresses you. If an opportunity arises to ask a question about group or team dynamics in a work situation, by all means ask it.

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