- Types Of Interviews
Find a Job You Really Want In
A panel interview can cause anxiety because it is often more stressful than a regular interview. Panel interviews are longer, ranging between 45 to 90 minutes long, so it’s important to know what to expect.
If you have a panel interview lined up, stick around. We’ll go over how you can ace your panel interview and provide some common panel interview questions with example answers.
Key Takeaways:
-
A panel interview can last anywhere between 45 to 90 minutes and can include:
-
A hiring manager
-
Your future supervisor
-
An HR manager
-
A potential peer
-
Any other department heads with whom you’d be working closely
-
-
When going into your interview make sure you come prepared with knowing who your audience is, bringing enough materials for all panel members, and knowing what follow-up questions you want to ask.
-
It’s important to engage with all of the panel members during the interview and say goodbye to each of them when you leave.
What is a panel interview?
A panel interview is a job interview conducted by two or more interviewers at the same time. The interviewers will likely include a hiring manager, your future supervisor, an HR manager, a potential peer, and other department heads with whom you’d be working closely. All areas of the company with a vested interest in finding the best candidate for the job vacancy will be represented at a panel interview.
Everyone in the room has a say in who the company ultimately hires, but the hiring manager typically leads panel interviews. They will ask some preset interview questions and lead the discussion. Other panelists likely have predetermined questions as well, in addition to posing follow-up questions when one of your responses touches on their role.
Panel interviews typically last between 45-90 minutes, so be ready for a test of your stamina.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use resume templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
10 Panel interview tips to help ace your interview
You should know who your audience is and be sure to engage with all panel members equally. Knowing who your interviewers are will help you make connections to them and you’ll be able to bring enough materials for all of them. Here are some more tips to help you ace your panel interview:
-
Know your audience. As we’ve said, your panel will likely be made up of the following people: the hiring manager, an HR manager, team leads from relevant departments and a potential peer. However, you should find out the specific people on the panel – just ask your company contact or recruiter beforehand.
Once you know who’s invited to the party, research them. Memorize names and job titles for each interviewer, see what their LinkedIn pages look like, and find out any major initiatives or accomplishments they have under their belt. With this information, you’ll be able to speak directly to their experience and satisfy their perspective on what an ideal candidate looks like.
The HR manager wants to make sure you’re a good fit in the company culture, the hiring manager wants to test your technical abilities, and a peer wants to see how you’d fit into their established team. Learn everyone’s name and role, and frequently use each panelist’s name to show you’re on the ball.
-
Engage with all panel members equally. A common mistake panel interviewees make is only addressing the most senior person in the room. Just because a hiring manager leads the discussion, it doesn’t mean you should focus your responses solely on her.
-
One of the best ways to show off your collaborative abilities is to involve every interviewer with every response you give. This can be as simple as ensuring that you give each panelist an equal amount of eye contact, even if it’s not their question you’re answering.
-
Do not forget to engage any silent panel members. It’s often the one who sits quietly taking notes that has the most clout in the final hiring decision, so be sure to bring them into the conversation when appropriate (this is where your prior research comes in handy).
-
An excellent way to involve everyone is first to answer a direct question and then anticipate what other department heads might want to know and address their perspectives. You can also ask questions throughout the interview instead of waiting until the end to keep engagement steady throughout.
-
-
Bring enough materials for everyone. It’s likely that all the panelists will already have your resume on hand, but it can’t hurt to bring enough copies to hand out. Make sure to use an attractive and professional resume template for easy readability. Bring a stack of business cards and any other documents you feel might be relevant during the interview.
It’s a straightforward way to make sure everyone in the room is up to speed on your background and credentials and will help avoid wasting time. It also showcases your abilities to prepare and think ahead.
-
Pay attention to your body language. The most significant element of your body language to keep in mind is eye contact. It’s easy to remember this tip in a traditional, one-on-one interview, but panel interviews can fluster even the most seasoned interview veteran.
As you answer an interviewer’s question, begin by maintaining eye contact with them. Then, start making eye contact with each panelist in turn, giving equal time to each. Don’t just swivel your head around like a bobblehead; shift your shoulders, and face each panelist squarely. In short, be attentive to nonverbal cues.
Make sure to smile, sit up straight, and try to control any nervous ticks, like tapping your feet or a pen. For those without good body language habits, a panel interview can be incredibly nerve-racking, so consider performing a mock panel interview beforehand to practice.
-
Be ready for follow-up questions. Even a regular job interview will likely include follow-up questions, but with a panel interview, you can expect follow-ups to take up a bigger chunk of time. Each panelist has their own perspective, and an answer you give to one may induce a follow-up question from another.
Panel interviews are typically fast-paced, so you’ll want to match that efficiency by having as many stories as possible to back up your qualifications. Use the STAR method to keep your anecdotes short and to the point.
Treat the panel interview as a conversation instead of a Q+A, and you’ll feel much more comfortable addressing each panelist’s perspective.
-
Take notes. Panel interviews will likely cover much more ground than your typical job interview, and it can be tough to keep it all straight in your head without a notepad. Be sure to ask your interviewers if it’s okay to take notes (they’ll say yes 99% of the time, but it’s polite to ask).
Don’t spend too much time writing, as you want to maintain eye contact as much as possible. However, you’re also here to learn more about the company and the role, so you’d be silly not to jot down this pertinent information.
Taking notes can also help you formulate questions as you go, whether you ask them during the interview or after. Also, try to take personal notes on each interviewer, so you have some content ready when you’re writing each a personalized thank-you note.
-
Ask questions. No interview is a one-way street, and panel interviews are no different. You’re there to find out if you want to work for this organization just as much as the interviewers are determining if they want you to work for them.
Find out about opportunities for advancement and professional growth, as well as the day-to-day responsibilities of the role. Demonstrate your genuine interest with in-depth questions that help the interviewers see your thoughts on the position.
Try to come up with one question per interviewer, so you have the chance to engage with each element of the hiring team, as well as some general questions.
-
Stay calm. Easier said than done, we know. But in the heat of a panel interview, you may feel pressure to rush through answers and come off as flustered. Balance active listening with speaking, or you might completely miss the point of an interviewer’s question in your rush to get out a response.
If you get stuck on a question, don’t lose your cool – just calmly state that you need time to consider the question and try to return to it later. A level approach like this will reflect better than a harried and confusing response.
Take your time to formulate answers, but keep your responses as brief and fluff-free as possible. And when those follow-up questions start flooding in faster than you can keep up with, try to prioritize which elements of the question need addressing. You might not be able to respond as fully as you like to each query but focus on communicating the most pertinent information.
-
Make sure to give everyone attention when you say goodbye. When the interview is over and you go to say goodbye, make sure to address everyone individually. You should look each member of the panel in the eye, shake their hand, and thank them for their time.
This will help ensure a great final impression before leaving the room, giving them their time to discuss your interview. Now doing this may not save your interview if everything else went poorly, but it can help sway any decisions otherwise.
-
Figure out follow-up. Don’t leave the room until you’re certain about when the organization will be in touch with the next steps. Otherwise, you might have to make some awkward inquiries later. You should also figure out who to contact with questions you think of after the interview.
Ensure that you get every panelist’s contact information so that you can write each a personalized thank-you note post-interview. Use your notes to mention at least one unique interaction with each, to show you were fully engaged with the entire panel.
Send thank-you emails as soon as possible because it’s likely the hiring committee will make a decision quickly.
Common panel interview questions with example answers
Our final tip is to practice your answers to common interview questions. Just because there are more interviewers, it doesn’t mean that these standard questions won’t go up.
Here are a some common panel interview questions, with example answers to help form your own:
-
Tell us about yourself.
I’m currently working as a research assistant for a small lab studying photovoltaics and their applications for solar energy collection. The most exciting projects we work on involve perovskite solar cells, which have the potential to increase the efficiency of solar absorption by a remarkable amount.
I’ve been interested in chemistry since my first episode of Bill Nye as a kid, and I’ve enjoyed marrying my passion for the field with my inclination for activism and social change. I appreciate that XYZ Corp. makes climate change awareness and activism a cornerstone of its mission and doesn’t try to take a value-neutral stance on the subject. It’s one of the main reasons I was so excited to apply when I saw this job open up.
-
Why do you want to work here?
As someone who’s been working as a business analyst for nearly a decade, I know a solid institution when I see one. I’ve been following ABC Inc., and you’ve had a clear mission and near-flawless execution since day one. It’s that sort of efficient and streamlined team that I want to be a part of.
Plus, this role is a dream for me. Both working with international clients while furthering monetization efforts domestically hit both my biggest areas of expertise and the parts of the job I love the most.
-
How do you handle stress?
My approach to stress is to be proactive. I try to anticipate issues with new projects by building time in my day for troubleshooting and assisting others, for example.
I also keep a running log of common problems that come up with me and my teammates and share it with everyone via Google Docs. Having a master sheet of quick fixes like this is invaluable, and elements from that doc often end up transforming into new SOPs or tutorials for new hires.
When unavoidable stress does crop up, I have a few techniques, but the chief among them is mindfulness meditation. I find that rushing to resolve an issue rarely produces the best results, so I instead take 5-10 minutes to clear my head and breathe. I then approach the situation as if seeing it for the first time and identify the most urgent and important matters to handle. This resulted in me getting the nickname “Zen Jen,” and I try to live up to it every day.
-
Tell us about a time you made a mistake.
When I got my first internship in a lab, I was so excited and ready to go the extra mile. In that spirit, I decided to weigh out the pharmaceutical compound that we were testing for the next week while waiting for the results of my first test. However, I hadn’t yet received a full tutorial on the fine nuances of the scale, so failed to take it.
Unfortunately, this meant that most of the results from my first day of experimentation were completely unusable. Luckily, everyone was really understanding and explained that it’s the sort of mistake you only make once. Not only were they right about that, but I now know to wait until I’ve been fully trained on standard operating procedures before independently performing any task in a lab.
-
How are you at handing tight deadlines?
Tight deadlines are something I have encountered a few times in my professional experience and can be a challenge. When handling a tight deadline, I will assess the tasks or requirements of the project and break them down into smaller more manageable tasks. This helps identify any potential bottlenecks or challenges. I will then prioritize tasks based on their urgency and impact.
Using effective communication is also more crucial when it comes to tight deadlines. I make sure to proactively communicate with team members and stakeholders, keeping them updated on my progress and potential obstacles. Tight deadlines are an opportunity to demonstrate my commitment, organizational skills, and ability to perform under pressure.
-
How would a colleague or coworker describe you?
I believe my colleagues and coworkers would describe me as a dependable and collaborative team member who is always ready to contribute to the success of the team. I make it a priority to be reliable and consistent in my work. Colleagues often rely on me to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality results.
I also value effective communication and believe it’s essential for the team to function successfully. My coworkers would say I am able to articulate ideas clearly and actively listen to their input to ensure everyone is on the same page.
I strive to be the kind of colleague who fosters a sense of unity, trust, and collaboration within the team.
-
Tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership?
In my last position, I was faced with a complex project that required coordinating efforts across multiple teams. The project was falling behind schedule and there was a lack of clear direction on how to move forward. I saw that there was a need for a leader, so I took the initiative to step up and guide the team.
I began by facilitating a meeting to gather input among team members. I encouraged open communication that allowed everyone to express their concerns, ideas, and suggestions. This allowed us to get a clear understanding of any issues we had. I took on the role of orchestrating a solution. I set clear objectives, revised the timeline, and assigned ownership for each aspect of the project.
Doing this taught me the value of proactive leadership, effective communication, and the importance of a collaborative environment. We were able to successfully complete the project because of my leadership efforts.
Other common panel interview questions
Here are some more common panel interview questions to look out for in your interview:
-
Do you have any questions for us?
-
Why should we hire you
-
Where do you see yourself in five years?
-
What is your greatest strength?
-
What is your greatest weakness?
-
Tell me about some of the responsibilities of your last job?
-
What type of work environment do you prefer?
-
What do you know about our company?
-
Why did you choose this career?
-
How do you handle feedback and criticism?
-
What relevant experience do you have for this role?
-
Why are you interested in this position?
-
How do you prioritize and manage your tasks or projects?
-
How do you adapt to changes and new situations?
-
How do you work in a team environment?
-
What is your approach to continuous learning and professional development?
-
Describe a project or accomplishment you’re particularly proud of.
Why do organizations conduct panel interviews?
Organizations conduct panel interviews to save time, come to a consensus, see how candidates perform in group settings, and test candidates’ ability to handle high-pressure situations. Here is a more detailed list of why organizations conduct panel interviews:
-
Saves time. The most practical reason for an organization to conduct panel interviews is how much time it saves. Hiring managers typically hold multiple panel interviews in one day, and the panel decides by the end.
The practicality of panel interviews is also nice for the candidate (although it may not feel like it). Instead of coming in multiple times and meeting one-on-one with various company members, you get all your interviewing finished in one session.
-
Consensus. When you have all the decision-makers together in a room, you reduce the risk of a bad hire. Each panelist will have a different perspective, and what satisfies one may spark follow-up questions in another. Panel interviews allow a representative from each relevant element of the company to have a say in what an ideal candidate looks like.
Additionally, panel interviews allow both parties to gauge whether you’d make a good fit for the company culture.
-
Tests candidates’ teamwork. In a panel interview, you have to engage with various personalities and levels of expertise. Interviewers want to see that you’re just as capable of addressing an HR rep’s questions as you are answering technical queries from your potential team lead.
By seeing how you interact with a group of potential colleagues, the panel members can assess how you’d fit into a team or collaborative effort.
-
Challenges candidates. It sounds kind of mean, but a significant reason organizations conduct panel interviews is to apply maximum pressure to the candidates. After all, the job you’re applying for is bound to have stressful moments, and panelists want to see how you handle those moments.
It also exposes how quickly a candidate can think on their feet and adapt to new situations.
Panel interview FAQ
-
Is a panel interview a good sign?
Yes, a panel interview is a good sign. In fact, it’s a great sign. A panel interview means your hiring company is interested enough to bring various staff members to the table to learn more about you.
These interviews are often held with executive team members to maximize their time out of the office. However, regardless of who you interview with, a panel interview is a good indicator that your candidacy is going well and you are likely being considered for the role.
-
How long is a panel interview?
A panel interview is typically anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. Panel interviews are held in order to maximize both the interviewer’s and interviewee’s time. Holding a panel interview allows the interview to happen in a shorter time frame instead of blocking out an entire day for interviews.
-
What individuals are usually involved in a panel interview?
A panel interview typically involves the hiring manager, a human resources professional, and other members who work closely with the role. You may also have executive members sit in on your panel interview, but this usually depends on the company’s size.
Small companies tend to like to have leadership involved in every hiring decision, but for many larger organizations, this process is inefficient, and the individuals who work closest to this job candidate are sufficient enough to conduct the interview.
While any organization may choose to conduct panel interviews, the most common industries for this type of interview are:
-
Academic institution
-
Government agencies
-
Nonprofit organizations
-
Consulting companies
-
Senior-level position (in many industries)
-
-
How do you introduce yourself in a panel interview?
In a panel interview, you should introduce yourself to each interviewer. It might be tempting to address the interviewers as a collective group, but it’s important that you take the time to introduce yourself to every single person in the room. It’s suggested to give a firm handshake, a smile, and introduce yourself by name.
-
Are panel interviews harder than regular job interviews?
Panel interviews can be considered harder than regular job interviews because they are more intimidating. Panel interviews are often more intimidating to the candidate as they are being interviewed by multiple people.
Although this may seem incredibly anxiety-inducing, panel interviews are often just as nerve-wracking as a one-to-one interview. The good news is, thay you will only need to be interviewed once, rather than separately by each person.
-
What are some questions to ask after a panel interview?
Some questions to ask at the end of a panel interview include:
-
What are some of the challenges I might face in this position?
-
Can you describe the working culture of the company?
-
What’s your favorite thing about working for this company?
-
What is the most challenging aspect of the job?
-
Final thoughts
There you have it – everything you need to know to ace your panel interview. We know that they’re an exceptionally brutal type of interview, but with these tips in mind, you’re sure to come out the other side with a job offer.
References
-
Indiana University Bloomington – Panel Interview Tips
-
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment Interviewing: Seizing the Opportunity and the Job
- Types Of Interviews
Jobs Near You
Author
Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.
Expert
Denise Bitler, CPRW, CDBW, MRW
Denise Bitler has 30+ years of HR experience working in various industries and with all level of employees from hourly through C-suite, as well as company Board Members.She is the founder of Resume-Interview Success, LLC and is an expert in best practices related to resume, cover letter, and Executive bio writing, LinkedIn Profile optimization, job search strategies, and interview coaching.
