Group Interview vs. Phone Interview?

Question

I was contacted by an employer saying to come to a group interview or if I can't attend that I can do a phone interview. I hate interviews period, but I hate talking in groups of strangers even more. Why are more companies doing group interviews instead of the traditional one on one interview? Also, how would they percieve me if I choose the phone interview over the group interview? Any answers from anyone in H.R. would be greatly appreciated or from someone who knows first hand.

Answer 1

If you like interviews, I as an employer would be nervous, people who like to interview generally don't like to work. So it's good to not like them.

A group interview is more common as it's easier for the hiring managers to all be in the room, and in 1-2 hours make up their minds, vs scooting you from place to place and bringing you back multiple times.

I would do the group interview if I were you. The phone interview will still probably lead them to bring you in for a face to face, or group interview.

It's okay to acknowledge you are a little nervous. Don't admit to not liking interviews. Lean back in your chair and bring your hands together in the temple position in front of your body (finger tips touching), and breath deeply. This will create a positive body language of gathering your thoughts, and a physical sense of slowing you down and calming yourself.

You can do it!

Answer 2

I had a phone interview only months ago, and it turned out I did not get the position, I had the choice of a group interview also (but being sick at that time unable to attend), anyways I would strongly suggest a group interview - face to face is better than over the phone that way they can see you and they have a better picture of who you are. I hate group interviews also, but believe you me the face to face works. The bigger the company the bigger the group interviews thats how it works these days. GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

I used to interview a lot of applicants for a large corporation, some for my department, some for other departments. We were interested in three facets: (1) was the job application factual and based on the ap was he/she qualified for the position, (2) background, experience and general attitude and (3) will the applicant “fit in” with the group?

Item (1) was accomplished by calling references and comparing the application with the job requirements.

As the manager, I took care of item (2) in a relatively short interview where I asked both general and specific questions and let the applicant do most of the talking.

I then turned him/her over to the rest of the department for item (3) while I sat in the corner listening to the exchanges, watching our associates’ reactions to the applicant and the applicant’s reaction to our associates. (This was critical because we placed a premium on teamwork.)

While I did phone interviews, they were to qualify applicants who lived far away, prior to buying them an airplane ticket for a cross country trip to our office.

If you’re seriously interested in the job, I strongly recommend you do it in person.

Hope this helps.