The other day I had a coaching session with someone who was preparing for a panel interview. She dreaded the meeting and the thought of walking into a room for an interview with three strangers who could determine her fate was intimidating! Yes, it can be intimidating but preparation is vital and if you put the whole thing into perspective and look at the interview as a discussion (rather than a firing squad), it’s not too bad. Here are a couple of tips that I shared with her:
1. Be prepared to answer behavioral questions that will take the panel through the steps you followed to solve a problem or work through a challenging situation. We’ve talked about the STAR behavioral steps in previous articles. Answer each question thoroughly but don’t ramble. Look at the body language of the interview team to clarify their understanding. If they seem confused, ask if you can provide further clarification or details. Each of the panel members has a personal agenda or stake in the interview so figure out their needs and concerns and respond accordingly. Ask questions.
2. Prior to the interview, try to get each person’s name and title. (They may be on LinkedIn.) Address the interviewer by name as you are asked questions. (This might be challenging for people who have problems with names but it can provide extra brownie points.) It’s good to get an understanding of how the open position ties into the various departments represented in the panel. Be engaged, ask questions, take notes and listen.
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4. Be confident but not overly so. When you are passionate about your field or a topic it shows.
5. Follow up the interview with a personalized thank-you note to each panel member.
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An hour and a half later and my client had a plan. She had three days to prepare and was going back to review her past accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, and discussion points. She also had a set of questions to ask the panel. She was excited and while her nerves were still on high alert, she was preparing to do her very best. I can’t wait to hear how she does.
