What is a Panel Interview? Tips to Ace An Interview

Have you ever been interviewed by two or more people at the same time? If not, do not worry, as we are here to give you every little detail of the panel interview format.

A panel interview is a job interview format in which a candidate meets with multiple interviewers simultaneously. This format allows the panel to collectively assess the candidate’s suitability for the position. Thoroughly read this blog to find out everything about panel interviews, starting from what is a panel interview to how to ace one! 

Panel Interview: An Overview 

There are various types of interviews and a panel interview is one of the essential interview processes used to shortlist candidates. Before we get to the hacks to crack a panel interview, it is important to understand what is a panel interview as it will give you an idea of what you are getting into. So, let us understand the meaning and purpose of a panel interview. 

What Does a Panel Interview Mean?

A panel interview is an interview round where two or more interviewees interview a single candidate. The panel consists of multiple people from different domains or teams, for instance, the panel could consist of the HR, your potential manager, and other members of the team. 

In this type of interview, each person on the panel gets the opportunity to ask questions related to your qualifications, skills, technical knowledge, capabilities, and more. During the interview, you are assessed on various aspects such as your technical skills, and potential to add value to the company, among other factors deciding your selection. 

Also Read: What is Mock Interview

Importance of Panel Interview

Companies usually opt for panel interviews as they save time and resources. Panel interviews are also preferred by employers because: 

• Saves Time: They can conduct the HR interview round, technical round, and the final interview round with the manager all at once. 
• Reduces Miscommunication: When multiple interviews are conducted and discussed later on, it increases the chances of biases or miscommunication. The presence of multiple interviewers reduces this risk. 
• Self Analysis: Through a panel interview you can understand and analyze your area of work. As a panel usually consists of members from most of the teams, while answering the questions you can determine your area of interest. 

Tips to Ace Your Panel Interview

Panel interviews can get challenging at times, with questions raining on you. You are bound to get nervous and might mess up sometimes. But to help you out we are here with some interview tips you can follow to ace a panel interview while giving you a hint of what are panel interviews like. 

1. Prepare Well Before The Interview

Let’s begin by understanding how you can prepare for a panel interview. 

• Do A Thorough Research: Research is highly essential for you to ace a panel interview or any other interview. Make sure to conduct thorough research on the company, members of the panel, and job role, and brush up on whatever you have learned or experienced so far. 
• Keep Multiple Resumes Ready: As you will be interviewed by multiple people it is safe to keep multiple resumes ready for an easy conduct of the interview. Keeping multiple resumes in hand will make it tricky for the interviewers to have a look at your resume at once.

2. Things to Remember During the Interview

Interviews are the most challenging and crucial part of the entire recruitment process. It is the stage where you get assessed based on your skills, experience, knowledge, and what value you can bring to the company. Here are some things to remember when interviewing for a position:

• Watch Your Body Language: Body language plays a crucial role in your selection. Your body language conveys what your words don’t. Make sure to have your back straight, chin up, and smile at intervals.
• Be Confident and Calm: Being confident is the key to winning the heart of the panel. Make sure to answer interview questions confidently. Maintaining eye contact is crucial and helps convey that you are confident during the interview. 
• Be Prepared for Multiple Questions: As you will be facing a panel you can expect multiple questions from various departments to assess you as a candidate. It is best to listen actively and think fast to ace a panel interview.
• Speak Up and Repeat When Required: During a panel interview, multiple interviewers will listen to you, making you speak a little louder than usual to ensure that your answer reaches everyone. Speaking with clarity explains your depth in the field and your ability as an individual. 
• Answer Similar Questions Smartly: During a panel interview, there are chances that you get asked to answer similar questions, for instance, one of the interviewers asks what are your strengths while another one asks, what skills will you bring to the company. Although answers to these questions are quite similar you have to ensure your answers are unique. 

If you want more tips on interview preparation refer to our blog on how to prepare for the interview. 

3. Things to Do After the Interview

Now that you have completed the interview successfully, it is time for the last few steps! 

• Seek a Follow-up: When winding up with the interview, be sure to take the contact information of any of the interviewers. This allows you to follow up regarding the next steps of the hiring process. 
  
  After the interview, seek a follow-up regarding the next steps of the process from the person you had taken the contact information. It is best to ask for the interview results through an email as it looks more professional. 
  
• Send a Thank You Mail: The last thing to do is email all the panel members, thanking them and extending gratitude for allowing you to be interviewed. This makes you look professional and gives you additional brownie points! 

Conclusion 

In this blog, you have learned what is a panel interview and how to prepare for it. The format of panel interviews not just helps the employers but the candidates too. While the employers determine the area or field you are most suitable for, you can also identify your field of interest and the area of work that compels you to give your best. This can seem challenging but by following the proven hacks you can ace any panel interview! 

Also, you can enroll in internship and job preparation course to ace your interviews! 

Have you ever appeared for a panel interview? Share your experience in the comments below!

FAQs

Let’s answer some of the FAQs about what is a panel interview.