Why I’d Prefer a Group Interview

Are you kidding me? The entire team? All those people judging me at the same time?

Intimidating, right? 

Sure – if you’re young and haven’t been exposed to many team environments. Or if you don’t have much experience in that field, or you’re insecure, or you get anxious easily, or you’re simply just shy, or...or…or… Truth is, your nervousness is probably not going to be much higher in a group than it is one-on-one. After all, you’re used to working with a team in some capacity, right? This is just a new set of faces!

Is that representative of the overall picture, though, to only meet a few of them on an individual basis? This would be your new “day home”. You’re going to be with these people every single day. All of them. Sitting in meetings, contributing on conference calls, solving problems, covering for them while they’re out of the office, making decisions, refining your groove as a team…together. 

1)   One Interview Date Instead of Several

We all know the standard phone-screenings before being invited to an interview. Congratulations! This is where the fun begins. You’ve got to break your pajama routine (admit it) and dry clean that stunning business suit for the big day. You’ll meet one or two people and hope you make it to the second round. And you do.

Another full day preparing. More, “Good luck!” and “How did it go?” shout-outs from your family and friends. A different suit (if you still have more than one these days.) New people. Different wing of the building. You’re on a roll now! You get called for the third and (hopefully) final interview where you meet yet another set of folks – and - answer the same set of questions. 

Let’s face it. For the person looking for a job, the interview system is daunting enough. Some people stay in jobs longer than they want to simply because they don’t want to go through it again! (Okay, maybe that’s just me.) Still, I’d take meeting everyone all at once, even if it lasts for four hours instead of two.

2)   It Is Easier to Schedule During Their Team Meeting

Most departments will have a staff meeting once a week or every two weeks. In most fast-paced environments we see today, scheduling a few one-off interviews can be challenging, especially when there is more than one viable candidate. It is likely the team has a pretty good handle of what is going on, so why not take advantage of the time they already have slated instead of taking them away from work?

3)   You Can See How THEY Interact Together – Do They Get Along?

Is the team really a team? Can you get a good feel for how well they like each other or if they’re going through the motions of a day? Is even one employee rolling eyes as another speaks? Are they making eye contact? Are they lighthearted or assuredly serious?  Are they asking you questions or telling you how it is? Take a moment to determine if they’re rushing you or taking their time? Do you feel you’ll fit together in harmony?  Are you excited about seeing them again…hanging out at happy hour? With this approach, the organization is promoting true team accord.

4)   You Can Find Out if They’ve Been There Too Long

This one is tricky! In some companies, tenure is a good thing – you certainly want to run away from any potential job offer from a company that has particularly high turnover – but how can you tell? Well, tune into what you learned from the team interaction I mention above. Do they seem set in their ways? Are they so comfortable with each other that you already feel like an outcast? You’ve worked for several companies; they’ve been there 20 years…can you determine if they want to know how things happen outside their four walls? Or are they content just being “them”? Either way is acceptable, of course! The question is – is it acceptable to your values?

One of the most valuable things I learned during my MBA program is that there are 3 “truths” of a company:

• The signs on the wall that “purport” what the company culture is like
• The “story” in the interview that the people tell you about living up to the company values
• The way it “actually” is once you get in there

Why “hunt and peck” through the nerve-racking measures? Heck, you’re going to be judging each other anyway – why not just get it over with and settle on a decision that’s best for all of you?? Have faith – it’s surely not that scary!