Playing the numbers
Group interviews are becoming the norm: Here’s how to stand out in the crowd
WHEN Sherman Julmis interviewed at Goldman Sachs in Jersey City last October for an internship, he was outnumbered three to one.
Although the Pace University Lubin School of Business finance major wasn’t aware of the arrangement ahead of time, the 21-year-old kept his cool, maintaining eye contact with each of his interviewers.
“What was going through my head mostly was answering everyone’s question,” says the Rockland County, NY, native, “and trying to win over everyone in the room.”
Win he did. As a junior, he landed that internship in the legal entity controller’s group. Yet his group interview wasn’t an anomaly: The human-resources consulting firm Insperity says such interviews are on the rise.
“The trend is something we are seeing across the board, in all types of industries, from technology firms to nonprofit organizations,” says Megan Moran, the Midtown firm’s senior human-resources specialist. One reason, she notes, is that workplaces have become more transparent. Seventy percent of the nation’s companies now have an open layout, the International Facility Management Association reports, lending itself to close collaboration among teams.
That group effort pays off for companies that want to save time and boost morale by having everyone on the same page while evaluating candidates. Here are several ways to ace that interview even when you’re feeling outnumbered.
Don’t play favorites
As soon as the interview starts, make sure to introduce yourself to each person in the room and shake each of their hands. Ask for business cards from everyone. When there are multiple interviewers, it’s important to find a way to connect with each one as much as possible.
Patricia H. Lenkov, executive recruiter at Agility Executive Search in Midtown, recommends treating everyone equally instead of directing your responses to the person you think is the most influential one in the room. “They may not be all of equal power and decision-making ability,” she notes. “Nevertheless, pay attention and make eye contact with each and every one of them. If one is neglected, this can sabotage your success.”
Take a notebook so you can keep track of everyone’s comments and refer to it for questions you prepared ahead of time. And definitely do your homework by Googling everyone who might be interviewing you.
“Know their names, titles, interests,” says Harley Lippmann, CEO of Genesis10, a professional-technology-services firm in Midtown. “Also, ask people who might know [them] a little bit about their personality and style. Knowing what to ex- pect will calm the nerves.”
Another way to prepare: mock interviews. Julmis, the Pace student, was able to do these at his campus career center, but if you’re not a student, simply assemble some friends and prepare as if it’s the real deal.
Tailor your answers
“Have examples and answers ready for predictable questions and tailor those answers to your audience,” Lippman says. In other words, an answer to an HR person might vary if you’re speaking to someone in IT, compliance or business development. And do expect to repeat yourself. “Group interviews that aren’t well prepared often involve the same question being asked in different ways,” Lippman says. “Your responses need to initially be directed to that person, but eventually include the entire group.”
Make yourself available
Close the interview by asking every member of the group if there are any additional details they require. There’s often someone who wants more information, so leave the door open and give that person a chance to probe further.
Although group interviews may seem overwhelming, they hold some definite advantages. For starters, instead of making time for three separate interviews, with everyone in the same room, you can get it done in one day. Plus, Julmis notes, a 30-minute three-on-one interview seems to go more quickly than a one-on-one:
“You’re talking more because there’s more dialogue.”