A group interview has two people from the hiring team interviewing up to eight people at a time. One interviewer can ask questions while the other observes and asks follow up questions. A group interviews allow you to put applicants into an unrehearsed situation. You can also evaluate how they interact with other people. The group interview is a great time to perform hands-on role-playing and group work. You can also test to see if they are interested in what others are saying? For example, when we want to test the core walue of caring about others, we may ask: “Billy – where did Sally say she was from?”
Here are some tips to create a group interview:
1. Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask the group based on core values.
a. Also prepare questions you will ask individual people from the information you get from your application and from your first impressions at the desk.
2. Create a fun atmosphere! You want to create an atmosphere where the possible hires don’t know they are being interviewed. Most people can fake the standard Q and A interview.
a. Have them telling jokes.
b. Have them role-play with each other.
c. Do creative ice-breakers.
If you really want to have fun, use a game! Ten years ago, I created a board game called “The Hiring Game” and GHF has been using this for the group interview ever since. The hiring game incorporates a series of playing cards that have a color and a statement that represents a personality trait. The game also instructs the players to perform a series of “role plays” that are predetermined difficult situation, or “Moments of Truth.” A moment of truth is any interaction that a customer has with your organization. Having staff that can turn every moment of truth into a positive experience is critical. The most important way to do this in an interview setting is have them role-play situations. The great thing about using a game to interview people is that you don’t have to rely on the skills of the interviewer, the outcome of the game assists in who should pass based on the company’s core values.
Shawn Stewart is the Operations Manager at Gainesville Health and Fitness Center. Contact him at shawns@ghfc.com
