How to Ace a Group or Panel Job Interview

Group interviews and panel interviews are mirror images of one another. Group interviews pit several applicants against each another in one combined interview. Panel interviews have only one candidate who is interviewed by a group of company representatives. Each presents its own set of challenges and communication issues.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Learn About the Dynamics of a Group or Panel Interview

1. Devote several hours to mock interviews in the style you expect. This will help you feel prepared and calm for the real thing.
2. Practice focusing on specific aspects of your individuality and answers that will make you memorable if you are going into a group interview.
3. Rehearse good listening skills and stay cool under pressure if you are preparing for a panel interview. In this setting, you will have to be able to answer rapid-fire questions with pinpoint accuracy, so be sure to conduct your mock interview this way.

Make Your Interview Count

4. Make the most of your time during a group or panel interview by sticking to your strengths and areas of expertise.
5. Expect a barrage of questions in a panel interview, but take your time answering each one. Incomplete or rushed answers will make you sound unsure of yourself.
6. Use your moments of attention in group interviews to shine. Highlight relevant skills and let your charisma show through in every answer.
7. Maintain eye contact with the person asking you questions and smile often. Your body language is just as important as your verbal conduct in an interview.

Follow Up With Potential Employers

8. Ask for feedback before you leave. There is nothing wrong with briefly asking what the panel or group interviewer thought of you prior to your exit. This advice will help with future interviews and help you identify your weaknesses.
9. Send a hand-written thank-you note to your contact person from an interview. If several people interviewed you, there is no need to thank them all unless you had personal correspondence with them or they were particularly helpful in some way.

Tips & Warnings

• Most job search Web sites will give you advice on how to conduct yourself in a group or panel job interview. You can often even find mock interview setups or questions that apply directly to these kinds of meetings.
• Keep in mind that, for companies above 15 and 20 employees respectively, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protect you from being denied a job because of a disability or your age.

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