July 1, 2010

How should I prepare for a panel interview?

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Q: : I have a job interview coming up and I understand that it will be a panel interview with several people at once. I’m used to one-on-one interviews. How will this be different? How should I prepare?

Kristen says: Companies have been using the panel interview format recently as a way to save time, both in the interview process itself and in the feedback stage. The thought is that getting your candidate in front of all interested parties at one time allows everyone to get answers to a variety of questions to reach a faster decision.

There is also the psychological factor; there is no doubt that panel interviews put more pressure on candidates to react under pressure. In these tight economic times, any edge an employer can get in evaluation is seen as a positive.

Another aspect to the panel format is that many diversity-sensitive organizations feel that this offers the candidate the most impartial audience. It mitigates a potential “bad day” that a single hiring manager might have by giving equally weighted consideration by a number of stakeholders. When setting up any future interviews, ask your recruiter what format to expect so you can prepare.

If you haven’t been in a panel interview, here is the basic format you can expect. You will meet with anywhere upwards of three people at one setting, usually in a conference room. Each interviewer generally has a pre-established set of questions to ask you. The order of the questions is pre-determined, often based on the role of the interviewer, and as you answer, you may get a clarifying question from another participant. Expect any or all of the panel members to be taking notes at any given minute. You will have time to ask your own questions at the end of the process.

Although this format may feel like an interrogation, that is not its purpose. Usually the hiring manager is the person most interested in assessing your answers as a whole, and it is very likely that s/he will meet with you individually after the panel interview is concluded. That is a very good sign, and gives you a chance to ask pointed questions.

For more tips about panel interviews, read "Ask the right questions to take charge of the interview" in NWjobs' Hire Ground blog.

Kristen Fife is a recruiter, resume consultant, and employment expert based in the greater Seattle area. She has worked with clients all over North America to help organizations and individuals find a mutual fit in the workplace. Ask her a question at recruiters_inbox@nwjobs.com. Sorry, no personal replies.

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