Group Interview.What is it??

[jme829]

Ok I have an interview tomorrow at Bath and Body Works. She said it will be a group interview...What is that? Anyone have any experience with that? Anyone work there? How is it??

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I've only been to one where they had a group interview (it was for Banana Republic). It's like a regular interview only with a lot more people. They sit you all down and ask you questions like they normally would do. They might ask you to roleplay situations to see how you might react, also.

TOV

 

[azgal81]

Good luck!

It's just like a regular interview except there are a few more potential candidates in the room!

 

[Poohnatic]

As a manager, I fell in love with the idea when I worked for Bath & Body Works and have done them everywhere else since.

An interview is conducted with 2 to 8 candidates (my ideal is 5 or 6) to see who stands out. Do you clam up when in a crowd? Do you 'me, too' to an interview question or do you come up with your own answer? Are you bored or an active participant? If I hand you a product to sell, will you run with it?

It's great to weed people out. I've only had one candidate that didn't impress in a group interview that a second interview showed her abilities better. However, I've had people in a group that I said 'no way' and another manager hired them anyway-and my impressions were accurate.

Good luck! They're a great company, good product and very busy during the holidays!!

Suzanne

 

[Hedy]

I've had great group interviews, and I've also had group interviews where some people were trying a little too hard to stand out.
Just do your best, listen to your other interviewees...

 

[SC Minnie]

Our company does only group or board interviews. We are not retail. Using 2-5 people interivew the candidate. Each candidate is asked the same exact question. We can't deviate from the question at all so that it does not give a candidate any advantage over another. Each candidate is graded on each question by all the people doing the interview. The panel will compare the scores. The candidates with the highest scores are brought back for 'probing' or follow up questions.

In this setting one person may get one 'vibe' from a candidate while another person in the room got something different.

 

[Jynohn]

Group interviews can be intimidating, but they can also give you the advantage of having a minute or two to think about your answer if there are other candidates before you, as opposed to having to come up with something right on the spot.

I've been on the most nerve-wracking group interview of all, the flight attendant cattle call!. At those interviews, literally 100+ other candidates are there, and you need to stand up in front of the room, tell about yourself, then answer a pageant-like question. Talk about pressure! After going through those, I feel like I can handle just about any interview situation thrown at me.

Good luck!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I did a group interview a few years ago for The Disney Store. They basically asked a question and went around the room and had everyone answer. If you don't have a problem with speaking in front of others, you should be fine

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I had a group interview for Bath & Body Works. It was my first (and only). We each had to pick something we had with us and try to sell it the the interviewer.

 

[GeorgeG]

Our company does only group or board interviews. We are not retail. Using 2-5 people interivew the candidate. Each candidate is asked the same exact question. We can't deviate from the question at all so that it does not give a candidate any advantage over another. Each candidate is graded on each question by all the people doing the interview. The panel will compare the scores. The candidates with the highest scores are brought back for 'probing' or follow up questions.

In this setting one person may get one 'vibe' from a candidate while another person in the room got something different.

This is how we used to do it where I worked. We were doing interviews to staff a new department that was being added to my area of responsibility. After each interview we would discuss our thoughts on the candidate and I would collect everyone's rating and comment sheet. If we thought any specific candidates had possibilities, we would have HR do a background check. After interviewing about 60 candidates we easily narrowed the field and did the same interview again with the narrowed group. It's also a great way to document a fair hiring practice as long as you keep all of the paperwork.