Panel Interview: 3 Ways to Position Yourself as The Best Candidate

You have already sent your professional CV; the recruiter has seen it and matched your skills and qualifications to the employer’s needs. Now it’s time to show the recruiter that what is on paper is who you are. Sounds easy enough, right?

Purity called in two weeks ago; she had been looking for a job for two years. Before that, she had worked in the banking industry for four years. After we spoke for a while, she told me she had been invited for an interview a week from then.

The interview was in an international organisation. While researching the organisation, she found an employee who had posted on one of his social media profiles about how a panel interview had intimidated him. Purity, too, was worried, which is why she called in. She wanted to know how to ace a panel interview.

Purity was right to be worried. One interviewer is more than enough to worry about; what about a full panel? Luckily, she spoke to one of our interview coaches about winning in a panel interview. Here’s what the coach had to say;

1. Familiarize yourself with the interviewers

Beforehand, research all you can about the organisation and the leaders who might be involved in the interview.

Once you have a potential panel list, you can look them up on LinkedIn. At this point, you’re trying to understand their interests, qualities, and the values they uphold.

Once you know what each recruiter is looking for, you’ll be in a better position to answer a question raised.

2. Don’t ignore any panelist

It is easy to focus on a single interviewer during a panel interview. However, there are certain challenges when interviewing on a panel.

If you have prior information about the panelist’s roles or if they introduced themselves before the interview, you might be tempted to look at the most senior member the whole time. This, however, is highly discouraged.

While the CEO may participate in the interview, they may not have direct involvement in who gets hired.

3. Follow up with each panelist

After you’re done with the interview, you can send each panelist a personalized thank you note.

This will help them remember you; you’ll likely be a subject of discussion even as they review.

Do not annoy them with emails or start asking questions every day. Be content still if they do not respond to your thank you note.

In conclusion

With thorough research and a deep understanding of panel dynamics, you will be equipped to make the most of your opportunity and ultimately land your dream job offer. If you want to gauge your preparedness for the panel interview, you can seek interview coaching services to boost your interview chances and gain more confidence.