My son has recently participated in a group interview to compete for merit opportunities . He has another group interview in about another month at a different school for merit , as well as admittance into a very selective group within the Honors College. The stakes are high as he has been working hard for this opportunity for over a year. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stand out during the interview process without looking arrogant , or on the other hand disinterested or passive? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A few tips for your S based on my observations from group interviews:
- Make sure you are really listening to what others say rather than just waiting for an opening to get your point across. Hijacking a conversation is a common blunder.
- Don’t be afraid to say, “I was interested in what X said about Y, but I have a different perspective…” (It’s a polite way to disagree…) They do want to see you think on your feet, handle disagreement, and generally move a discussion forward. If everyone is agreeing with everyone else, that’s not happening.
- Ask clarifying questions if you are unclear on something someone said - it doesn’t reflect badly on you to show that you are listening carefully and not making unfounded assumptions.
- Resist the urge to over-simplify someone else’s position to make your own look more nuanced - that tactic puts peoples’ backs up.
- And if someone gets cut off, don’t be afraid to point out that that person didn’t finish speaking - and you want to hear the rest of what they had to say.
- A little self-deprecating humor never hurts. Humility is an attractive quality.
Thanks N’s Mom. That was son’s observation from his last interviews. He tried to be courteous, but as a result many of his responses were used by another interviewee so he did have to think on his feet quite a bit.
N’s mom, I like your suggestions. The suggestions would also make work meetings more palatable.
N’s Mom, Thank you for your excellent suggestions. @carolinamom2boys Thank you for posting your question. I think our boys will be at Wofford in February. We’re still waiting to hear back from another school about their next round of interviews.
Group interview?
That sounds like something out of the Hunger Games. “On average, we’ll pick just one person in this room. This isn’t about showing that you’re better than others in this room” doesn’t seem the most well thought-out premise.
My kid did well in a group interview and later the program director said they liked him because he made a joke at the beginning that relaxed everyone.
Actually @NotVerySmart The group interview can be quite telling regarding social skills, team work, confidence etc. Not like the Hunger Games at all. In fact , DS16 was quite relaxed and must have done well because he was offered substantial scholarships after his interview . Everyone in the room was guaranteed a scholarship. It was not as you described at all.
I suppose your mileage may vary.
I’ve had a few friends go through interviews in a group setting, and they all described an atmosphere I’d call “calculated relaxation.” Everyone trying to seem like the confident, personable leader while undercutting the rest of the group with backhanded compliments or by trying to claim ideas as their own. Two of the worst offenders, it later emerged, did quite well out of that interview.
@NotVerySmart I’m sorry your friends had a negative experience. Based on my son’s experience and the others experiences posted on this thread, it seems like maybe their experiences were outside the norm instead of the other way around . Do you have any suggestions since that was the purpose of this thread?
Suggestions?
- Don't be like the people I mentioned.
- If you find yourself in a group with such people, don't let them walk over you. If someone presents your idea as their own, call them out on it. If Abraham Lincoln wasn't too pure to set principle aside and be practical, I don't think anyone is.