Qualifiers, group work - what is the winning strategy?

Question

Google

Please share your experience of participating in selection events for study or work.
What is the winning strategy if the selection is based on the results of the work of applicants in groups? The language is only English, the selection of applicants is multinational ...

Answer 1

Put yourself in the place of a future employer: what does he want from you?
And it will become much easier for you to orient yourself in the situation:
The selection group is the performance of some test task. It can be individual or group. In the second case, either the curator is watching you, or each participant indicates his contribution in the report.
So, the employer needs:
1. So that you complete the task as accurately as possible.
It's hard to give any specific advice here. If conditions allow, show several options. This is more of a plus than a minus and indicates your broad outlook. The examiner must see the course of your thoughts and the structure of your decision: "Who thinks clearly, he clearly states." The absence of intermediate conclusions is rather a minus than a plus. Show the sequence of your actions, the criteria that you followed when choosing them. This is important, because even if the result differs from the correct one, the verifier will conclude in your favor - he may well be satisfied with the logic you used and approaches that directly or indirectly testify to your skills.
By the way, very often cases are given to solve tests - with an excessive set of data and several answers, or there may not be a correct answer at all. This is normal and you need to be prepared for this. Unless, of course, you are tested for knowledge of a programming language, or the test consists in setting up a rack of routers, where everything is somehow or more or less unambiguous - either it works or it doesn’t. :)
2. To show the skills and behavior that he needs to be selected for a vacant position / for successful training.
This is especially important when working in a group. If you are a super-pro, but conflicted and hysterical, you will not get a job. The company does not have the opportunity to create exceptional working conditions for you that level out your shortcomings, only if you are not a recognized international specialist. Therefore, when working in a group, you must defend your opinion firmly and convincingly, but at the same time gently and politely. The curator who is watching you should see you and your interaction with people. Loom before his eyes. A person who builds relationships well in a group and knows how to gently persuade her to one opinion or another has more chances than a person who paralyzes the overall work by creating conflict or irritating other participants, no matter how right you are.
But we must carefully look at the task that is set for the group, it may turn out that the method of selection for the position is just a conflict. Especially if the vacancy requires stress resistance, self-control and emotional stability.
And smile, always smile. But without exaltations and demonic giggles.
3. So that your personal qualities correspond to his ideas about what a person should be in this position / place.
If the selection goes to a position that involves a clear performance of duties, for example, an accountant or a process control manager, then demonstrating your creativity will do more harm than good. At the same time, it will be highly desirable to show insight and deep knowledge of the subject. You must always remain in the field of requirements for the position or show results a little more, but not outstanding, except in special cases.
Study the corporate culture of the organization you are trying to get into. You must understand its principles, and then your chances of success will be higher. Corporate culture is a very multi-layered thing. This is etiquette, business practices, manner of speaking, even a set of topics for conversation, a way of presenting oneself and interacting with others. It starts with clothes. If you are scheduled to be tested at the bank, you should not come in shorts and flip-flops - a modest business suit is more appropriate thing.
You should not demonstrate your solvency, except for those cases when you apply for the position of a member of the board of Gazprom (this is from the realm of fantasy, but, nevertheless, let's say :). Leave the real Rolex and Vertu's phone at home, and Zyp Landcruiser in the garage. You should not look "more expensive" than your future boss. This unspoken rule is observed by many Western companies. And in general, many Western and Russian companies do not encourage their employees to be addicted to “tsatskas and vans”. To get your bearings, look at how those people with whom you interviewed previously are dressed - dress the same way. Girls are strongly advised to forget about very high heels, fishnet tights and fucking paintbright makeup if you are applying for a position where you need to work with your head. Dress cleanly, neatly, without conspicuous. “They meet according to their clothes, they see them off according to their minds” - you can’t say more precisely, because, as Lee Won Yang said: “Russian folk language is great and wise.”
Do not abuse toilet water or perfume - a strong smell, even if it is a pretentious and fashionable fragrance, can act on people repulsively on a subconscious level. You should not have any foreign odors. Tidy up your appearance - if you have bad teeth - cure them. Get prosthetics to keep your smile clean. Keep your hair neat—a dyed mohawk would still work for a creative director job applicant at a skateboard design company, but you’re unlikely to be properly assessed if you test for an MBA program somewhere at Harvard.
4. Language. If the company is American, and the person who makes the decisions is a native American, then it is acceptable to use Americanisms in speech and writing, but you should not get carried away - Negro and common people kinda, outta, muttafaka - forget it, even if you know where and how it is applied. European companies, including English ones - only plain English, without American pronunciation - clearly and correctly, as taught at school. Do not use turns from fiction if you have problems with spoken language, even if you know where to stick fancy constructions. Non-English people will not understand you, although they will not show it. And real Englishmen, inside themselves, will be a little ironic, although they will not show it either. Speak grammatically correctly - it's not difficult at all. Observe the pronunciation: think and sink are two big differences. The use of hell in a business conversation between people who do not know each other, especially when one of them gets a job for another, is also unacceptable. To commemorate devils and hell out loud does not allow Protestant and Catholic morality, not to mention stronger words.
Well, somewhere like that.
In short, mimic the employees of your future place of work.