I have an interview coming up in two weeks for a position as part of the training team for a youth development charity. As part of the selection process I am required to deliver an ice-breaker. It will be for a group of approx 8 people, all of them staff for the organisation I am applying for. The ice-breaker should last about 5mins and can be of any form. I'm looking for something fun and silly where I can demonstrate my abilities as a facilitator. Any suggestions?
Emily
5 Responses
icebreaker
Why not use the “bumper sticker” icebreaker?
Split delegates into groups of 2 or 3. Ask them to design a bumper sticker for (this could be anything)
ideas:
1) The millenium dome
2) The mayor of London
3) Trips to Loch Ness
etc etc
You might want to give them some clear parameters to work within i.e.
must be fun, colourful, etc or aimed at young people/elderly etc
give them overhead acetates and pens to write on and then they can present on the ohp
five minutes to prepare
1 min each to feedback
A prize for the best – in whatever category you decide. I suggest you get them to decide which is the best any why
As part of your facilitation – ask them what they perceived to be the purpose of the exercise and what were the learning outcomes.
Short but sweet – it does work!
ice breaker suggestion
If the people don’t know one another, you can use the game where everyone stands/or sits in a circle and an object (usually a soft cushion or soft ball) is thrown by one person at a time to someone else in the circle but only if the thrower can call out the intended recipient’s name. It’s a way to learn everyone’s name quickly and is usually fun. It does pre-suppose that everyone can see/catch. With a group of eight or so it would take 5 minutes. It’s fun and effective.
Two truths and a lie
A fun exercise for those who work together, and think they know each other. Each participant has a few minutes to think up two truths and a lie about themselves, and then share them with the group, e.g.
1. I once kissed Ginger Spice
2. At school, I ran a scam involving selling blank report forms, and was caught by the headteacher in her office taking them
3. I played football at junior level for Scotland
The more inventive the truths, the better. The other delegates have to discuss amongst themselves, and reach a consensus on which is the lie. Good fun, breaks the ice, and good to refer back to later on in the course as the trainer.
Animal instincts
Give each person a blank card and pen, ask them to write down which animal they believe people would see them as most resembling (characteristics not appearance!)
Give the cards to one person and ask them to guess who wrote it. If they are correct they keep that card and try the next one, and so on. If they guess wrongly they pass the deck to the person they cjose, and that person then guesses, and so on. Fun, interesting to see peoples’ perceptions of themselves and each other, and a little competitive – the person with most cards at the end receives a small prize…
Of course other subjects can be used, person they admire most…etc
Interview Ice Breaker
I agree with Martin’s comment regarding the “spot the lie” ice breaker. I had it used on me in a group interview, it did the trick and was enjoyable at the same time. It also gives you a special insight into people very quickly, can the best liar ever be trusted?……. (I was the best liar by the way!)