As opposed to the standard one-on-one interviews, preparing for a panel interview is slightly different. A panel interview is with several people, all at the same time. Instead of being asked questions by one interviewer, you will be meeting with a group of interviewers each with their own questions about your credentials. If your palms sweat during a one-on-one interview, you can imagine the nerves that come when a potential employer says you will be meeting with more than four people- all at the same time. Needless to say, people who have attended this type of interview often describe it in negative terms like the “firing squad” vibe and “endurance test” which create labels that make panel interviews all the more intimidating. For both interviews, some steps are the same. But there are few extra areas to focus on when preparing. Here are five ways to help you prepare for the panel interview; 1. Know the interviewers According to Nicole Lindsay, a career development expert based in the United States, typically your panel of interviewers will represent multiple areas of the company, so each representative will consider you through a different lens. So, to prepare best for this type of interview, find out who your interviewers are in advance. “Simply ask your company contact (whoever you spoke or emailed with to arrange the interview), ‘Can you tell me a little bit about the panel I will be meeting with?’ More than likely, she will at least be able to give you their names,” Lindsay writes. 2. Engage the group with your responses According to Lindsay, once you have a solid understanding of who is in the room, you can build rapport by connecting with the interviewers, both as individuals and as a group. This she explains can be done by answering each question directly, at the same time elaborating further by adding points to address the perspectives of the other interviewers. 3. Observe your body language As you speak it is important to mind your body language, advises Lindsay. “You may be tempted to focus your attention solely on the interviewer who holds the most senior position, asks the most questions, or has the most say in the ultimate hiring decision, but it’s important to make a connection with each representative.” However, when responding, experts say, direct your initial answer to the person who asked the question, but as you continue to elaborate and provide examples, address the other interviewers. “And don’t just make eye contact, rather, shift your shoulders so that you’re squarely facing each individual. Even if they look down to take notes, continue to move your gaze from interviewer to interviewer to establish a more conversational atmosphere.” 4. Control the pace of the conversation As you sit on the other side of the table, you may feel like the interviewers are shooting each new question at you faster than you can fully answer the previous one. In order to succeed in this interview format, you have to control the pace of the conversation. “Don’t rush your answers; when asked a question, pause for a second to really consider what you want to say before responding. But make sure you answer briefly and get to the point quickly—in a panel interview, you will probably get asked another question before you’ve fully responded to the last.” Lindsay reiterates. 5. Prepare for follow-up questions As opposed to the one-on-one interview, this type of interview also usually evokes more follow-up questions than usual. Multiple panellists means multiple perspectives. In most cases, what satisfies one interviewer’s question may spark additional inquiries from others. To avoid coming up short on content, make sure you are armed with multiple examples and anecdotes to explain your background and experience.
