{"id":58,"date":"2016-09-19T15:34:12","date_gmt":"2016-06-25T00:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wayupstudent.wpengine.com\/?p=58"},"modified":"2018-06-29T14:08:29","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T14:08:29","slug":"what-is-a-panel-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wayupstudent.wpengine.com\/what-is-a-panel-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Panel Interview?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019ve just started looking for a job or you\u2019ve already had several interviews, at some point during your job search you may encounter a panel interview. What is a panel interview? It\u2019s an interview where you\u2019re meeting with a group of people at once (typically between 2-5) and answering questions posed by all of them. It\u2019s important to note that panel interviews are different from back-to-back interviews<\/a> where you meet with one person after another on a one-on-one basis. Instead, a panel interview means meeting several decision makers at the same time and it\u2019s designed to do three things: save the interviewers\u2019 time, assess how well candidates handle pressure and ensure that the hiring decision is a collective one.<\/p>\n

Although a panel interview may sound a bit intimidating at first, with a little preparation it\u2019s possible to highlight your impressive qualities and make a great connection with each of the people who are evaluating you. Panel interviews also offer you a chance to explain your background and experience in more detail, touching on some points that you might not have a chance to mention otherwise.<\/p>\n

Here are the three main things you need to know about panel interviews.<\/p>\n

1. What the panelists are looking for<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Like a one-on-one interview, the interviewers are trying to assess a few key factors like your ability to do the job and whether you\u2019re a good culture fit<\/a>. By structuring the interview as a panel, they also want to gauge your ability to communicate ideas to an entire group and to address concerns at both the individual and collective level.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to address the panel\u2019s questions and demonstrate confidence, focus on the following things as you prepare your answers.<\/p>\n

Your experience and skill set<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a recent graduate applying for an entry-level job, you won\u2019t be expected to have a lot of professional experience but you will be expected to show that you understand the role and its requirements. To demonstrate your understanding, talk about your skill set<\/a> and how it applies to the position. For example, if you\u2019re applying for a job in the financial services industry, you can mention things you picked up during economics or business classes in college, like an understanding of financial markets or quantitative reasoning. And if you do have experience in the form of an internship, this is a great time to mention it!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Your personality and how it fits into the company culture<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

With companies increasingly focusing on cultural fit as part of the hiring process, panel interviews are an opportunity for decision makers to ask questions about the kind of environment you thrive in and the types of people you like to work with. In order to show that you\u2019re a cultural fit at the organization, it\u2019s important to research the company beforehand and then to respond to questions from panelists in a way that shows that you understand the company culture.<\/p>\n

Pro Tip: <\/strong>Engaging the panel both collectively and as individuals is a great way of showing that you\u2019re able to communicate effectively with everyone on the team and to address concerns each person may have. For example, if you\u2019re asked how you would handle reporting to several managers, mention that you would schedule weekly meetings with all of them and then ask what they\u2019re each looking for in an ideal candidate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a02.\u00a0Who is likely to be on the panel<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Panel interviews usually consist of a combination of people from different parts of the company. A few people you\u2019re likely to encounter during a panel interview are:<\/p>\n