A Panel Interview?! How to Stay Calm and Impress the Panelists

You’ve just gotten the good news! Your Tews Company recruiter has secured an interview for you with a great company. The bad news: it’s a panel interview! Your forehead is already starting to glisten. Grab a tissue, wipe your brow and review these tips on preparing for a panel interview.

1) Prepare as you would for a one-on-one interview. Do thorough research on the company, review the job description line by line, and practice answers to common interview questions. Be ready to speak confidently about your skills, accomplishments and why you are interested in the role.

2) Each interviewer on the panel will have a different agenda. One of the interviewers may be a prospective peer, who will be curious about a specific skill. The Human Resource Representative on the panel will want to know why you are interested in the company. The Hiring Manager will inquire about your job stability, dedication and motivation to complete the work. Keep this in mind as you are preparing for the interview. Plan to answer a broad range of questions.

3) Smile and greet each panelist. Entering the interview room is similar to walking into a house party where 4 or 5 people are standing by the front door. You wouldn’t scoot past the people and head straight for the buffet table, would you? (Okay, maybe you would, but work with me on this). Before immediately taking a seat to begin answering questions, shake hands and make deliberate eye contact with each panelist.

4) Speak slowly and clearly. Many people talk too fast during a panel interview, subconsciously trying to get through it as quickly as possible. Zipping through your answer will result in a lack of enunciation. Nervousness and low self-confidence are often attributed to rushed speech. The panelists will misunderstand you or become annoyed and stop listening altogether. Try this exercise: Write down a sample answer to a common interview question as follows:

• Make marks / in your written answer / into short phrases. / Then read your answer /pausing briefly / at all the marks. / Read it over and over / again and again / until you are accustomed / to the pauses.

 

5) When answering questions, make eye contact with each person on the panel.
The most common error during a panel interview is to focus solely on the panelist who asked the question. Or worse, looking at one panelist during the entire interview! That makes you appear to be inflexible and tense. It’s appropriate to direct the first few words of your answer to the panelist who asked the question. As you continue with your answer, look around at the other panelists.

6) You will get repeat questions. It’s likely that you will be asked a very similar question again, later in the interview. Just smile and answer! Refrain from rolling your eyes or making a comment about having already answered the question. Keep a positive, pleasant tone of voice.

7) It’s a meaningful conversation, not an interrogation. One way to turn the interview into more of a conversation is by acknowledging a previous question or comment in your answer.  “As Chuck mentioned earlier, getting accurate initial data to complete the proposal is essential.” Since you will have a prepared a few work experiences that demonstrate your competence and abilities, you will be easily able to recite these examples in a conversational manner. Think of it as sharing a story with the panel, not answering a question.

8) Expect at least one obscure question.
It’s possible there will be a panelist looking to impress the others by asking a question that no one else would have thought to ask you. No need to panic. Keep eye contact with the interviewer, pause briefly and respond with, “Unique question, let me think about that for a moment.” Also, you can follow-up by asking for clarification. Squelch the urge to immediately reply with, “Why do you ask that?” or, “How does that question relate to the job?” Again, keep a positive, pleasant tone of voice.

9) Plan on asking questions. Be sure to carry a leather binder, with pen and a pad of paper inside, with your questions written down. For examples of great questions to ask in an interview refer to my previous blog.

10) Time for Thanks!
At the conclusion of your panel interview, shake hands and thank each panelist. Collect business cards. It’s essential to send a Thank you for the interview e-mail to each panelist, individually, not a group e-mail. Your e-mail should be sent within 24 hours of the interview.

11) Adjust your perspective on the panel interview.  It’s an opportunity to meet new people, learn more about an organization, and share your background. You have done your research, prepared and practiced, and believe in your abilities! Now, go ace that panel interview!

For more tips and career search information go to: https://tewscompany.com/category/career-search/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pam Picard, Senior Recruiting Coordinator