Panel Interview

Panel Interview - Group presentations are a big part of what you will do as a consulting professional. Panel format interviews are nothing more than a type of structured group presentation.

Are they stressful....yes, but so it just about any group presentation that you will ever do.

Prepare as you normally would for any type of interview, but also keep the following in mind to help you perform more effectively in a panel format interview:

(1) Obtain as much information in advance as you can about the panel members -- their roles, responsibilities and working relationships.

(2) Greet all interviewers individually, repeat their name and shake their hand.

(3) If there is a choice between sitting and standing, choose to stand. You make a much more powerful presentation when standing.

(4) Listening carefully to the question being asked and keep your answer on point.

(5) Make eye contact with all panel interviewers as you speak, but give heavier weight to eye contact with the person who asked you the question you are answering.

(6) Look for opportunities to use the interviewers' first names during your responses. Don't over do it, but using names establishes a positive connection between you and the interviewer.

(7) Look for opportunities to interrelate the answer to your current question back to previous interviewers' questions and comments.

(8) At the end of the interview, thank each interviewer individually, and again, shake their hand.

Debrief yourself following the panel interview. Make notes of things you did well and things you can improve upon next time.

Follow up with each interviewer by written note or email with 24 hours of the interview. Thank them individually for their time and express you interest in the job opportunity with their firm.

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