Hi!
I can completely understand why that feedback feels confusing, and it often does at AC stage as the firm is assessing quite subtle behaviours.
For a group exercise, firms are usually looking for a balance of a few things at the same time, such as:
- Contributing ideas that move the discussion forward
- Engaging with others' points (e.g. building on them, asking follow-up questions, summarising, etc.)
- Helping the group reach a collective decision rather than just presenting your own view
- Encouraging quieter group members and managing those who are more dominant
From what you have described above, it sounds like you did a lot of positive things, such as contributing your own view, framing it commercially, and acknowledging others! The feedback about "influence or engagement" doesn't necessarily mean that you didn't speak enough, but sometimes it refers to how visibly you shaped the direction of the conversation. For example, you might summarise where the group is (e.g. "It sounds like we are leaning towards X, so should we test that against Y?"), ask others directly for their view, or aim to structure the discussion (e.g. "Maybe we should start by comparing these two options against the client's priorities?"). These behaviours usually show facilitation and leadership, which can sometimes be what the assessors mean by "influence".
On the HR interview point, you are right that it differs between firms slightly, but the general rules that I followed were:
- Aim for clear and structured answers that are around 1-2 minutes each
- Use a simple framework or structure for each answer (e.g. STAR for competency)
- Focus on the most relevant details, rather than trying to cover everything
Interviewers will usually care more about the clarity of your answers and any reflections that you make, rather than the sheer amount that you say. If anything, they can always ask follow-up or clarifying questions if they'd like you to expand on a point.
The competition is really tough at AC stage, and it is often about highlighting what would elevate an already good performance into a stronger one, rather than suggesting you did something wrong. It sounds to me like you clearly demonstrated strong teamwork behaviours, so I would reflect on the feedback that they gave so you can go in more confident next time!
