6 Tips to Ace a Panel Interview

A panel interview with multiple interviewers could be compared to a firing squad. You can press the mental slow-motion button if you are suitably prepared. Dealing with the intense experience with a calm and collected attitude will impress everyone present. 

Here are six ways to ace your panel interview:

Find out who will be on the panel and remember names. It is crucial to understand the panel dynamics before you enter the room. Everyone will have a different perspective on your candidature. Understand which aspects of your experience might be relevant for each person. Do some research on LinkedIn and ask any contacts you may have at the company. Ensure that you use their names selectively throughout the interview.

Engage the whole panel – and treat everyone equally. Regarding your body language and how much effort you put into answering each question, it is essential to treat each panel member equitably, regardless of their seniority. Direct most of your attention to each questioner but ensure eye contact with the rest of the room as you answer. You need to pick up on those hidden signals from everyone as you seek to build rapport.

Panel interview confidence

Control rapid-fire questioning with confidence. Each panel member will have their own angle. It is nearly always a fight to squeeze the questions in. Candidates are often consequently interrupted before they have finished making their point. Take control of the pace of your answers and if you feel like you have not finished, politely mention that you will come to the next question after you have said one more thing. 

Answer briefly and do justice to follow-up questions. Because there will be so many questions coming your way, it is crucial to be as brief as possible with your answers. If every interviewer can ask enough questions, they will feel that they have had enough chance to build rapport. Leave enough accomplishments “in reserve” to tackle the inevitable follow-up questions. Do your best not to repeat the same examples.

Don’t be afraid to make notes. There is a 90/10 rule that you should follow in an interview in terms of your attention. If you sit there with an unwavering focus on each interviewer, they may wonder just how much you are taking in. Have the confidence to look down at your pad in brief moments of silence and make notes at significant moments. This gives both you and your interviewers a chance to think and gather your thoughts.

Find out who to follow up with. Send “thank you” emails. Time in a panel interview is always at a premium, so minimise any practical questions that could have been clarified in advance. You should be told about the next steps, but it shows interest if you ask about the follow-up procedure if that is not the case. Sending “thank you” emails is not only polite, but it will also ensure that your name is front of mind as decisions are made.

A panel interview gives you the chance to show how you can influence a crowd. In a world where meetings, presentations, and large Zoom audiences are common, communicating with a large audience is an important skill.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists.

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).