The dos and don't of panel interviews
1 User friendly
Panel interviews may seem daunting, but look at them positively. They streamline the recruitment process, and you get to see how senior figures within your potential employer interact (there’s nothing worse than managers at war). And as there are usually at least three people on a panel, the chances are that one will see merit in how you handle the interview. Remember – they may be more nervous about ‘performing’ in front of their colleagues than you are about the interview.
2 Homework
Find out who you are meeting. Typical panels comprise finance and human resources people with overlapping or even competing agendas. If you are applying via an agency, your consultant should know who’s who and their role in the hiring decision. This will help you prepare questions for each member, so that everyone feels you are trying to impress them, not just the finance director. Have some reserve questions on standby in case someone new comes into the room during the interview.
3 Eye contact
Be a ‘lighthouse’. Don’t focus on one person; direct your answers to the questioner but sweep everyone into your gaze as you speak, including any silent observers – it shows confidence and openness. If you are certain you can remember them, use individual names every now and then – touches like this make the interview more of a conversation than an interrogation. If you think someone doesn’t like you, work on them rather than switching your attention to the others.