Tips to prepare for an interview panel

Most people find it easy to prepare themselves for a one-on-one interview with a potential manager or recruiter. However, some companies prefer to use a group of interviewers to test how well candidates interact with multiple people at once. Here are some tips to help you get ready to face the panel.

Build rapport While it can be difficult to interact with each member of the panel individually, it’s important to try and build rapport. Ask each person a unique question to keep the conversation flowing on both sides. It’s not a good sign if they’re doing all the talking.

Know when to take notes Writing certain information down is essential, but you should be sparing with the notes you take. Don’t keep your head down too much; only write it down if it’s important.

Mention a previous point Prove to your interviewers that you’re a good listener and a team player by referring to a point somebody made earlier and addressing the person who made it.

Practice makes perfect It can be more stressful to have to answer so many people, but that’s the point of a panel interview. Practise beforehand with family and friends and don’t avoid any questions if you’re asked more than one at a time.

Get organised Pay attention to names and job titles and commit them to memory straight away to avoid embarrassment. If you know who will be on the panel before your interview, research each person to help you stay on top of things.

Follow up individually Rather than sending a mass email following your interview, write a unique message to each member of the panel. Be sure to mention particular points they made to show that you were listening – this is guaranteed to impress.

Read the original article at tinyurl.com/op2wr86