Panel interviews are particularly popular in the Public Sector. In a panel interview you may find yourself interviewed by three or four people. This might include the Line Manager for the job, someone from personnel, maybe a technical person if it is a technical job, maybe a Union Representative and perhaps even a Psychologist.
Panel interviews tend, by their nature, to be more formal than some one-to-one interviews. This can make them more stressful, but there is no reason why they should be harder to handle than any other interview.
Bear in mind that HR professionals and Line Managers have different approaches to interviews. HR people conduct interviews for a living, they do lots of it and they know exactly what they are looking for. They will not have to work directly with you so their concerns are fairly black and white. They want you to match their employee specification as closely as possible.
The Line Manager, by contrast, may hate doing interviews for all you know and will appreciate all the help you can give them, so be chatty and interested. They will be wondering whether you will have a good working relationship with them and with the rest of the team, so let them see that you are easy to get on with. So, quickly get to know who is who on the panel and match your answers most specifically to the person who has asked the question, while taking account of the rest of the panel as well.
Interview Format: 1. After an initial brief chat the person chairing the interview will ask you questions from a general list that all candidates will be asked. These will be general questions about your current or previous roles, your education and qualifications and the reason you are seeking employment.
2. Then the panel will ask you questions arising from your own particular application. These will include questions about your suitability for their role, what can you offer, what relevant experience do you have.
3. After this the chairperson on the panel will probably tell you a bit more about the organisation and the job you are applying for.
4. Finally, they will ask for your questions. Have these prepared.Good questions to ask are: a) Why has this vacancy come up?
b) Do you promote internally when possible?
c) What will be the top priority in this job over the next six months?
d) What opportunities are there to gain extra qualifications or experience?
e) If I was offered this job, where would you see me in five years time?
f) Where does the Company want to be in five years time? Questions to avoid at all costs are: a) What will my salary be?
b) What holiday entitlement will I get?
c) How long do most people take for lunch?
d) Would I get my own office?
e) I need to drop the kids off at school on my way to work, would it be OK to start at 9.30am? Tips to Remember: 1. Be punctual, there is a group of people waiting for you.
2. Dress smartly and professionally, a business suit if possible, or at the very least matching co-ordinates, trouser/skirt and complementary jacket.
3. Do not carry or wear overcoat into interview and do not carry more than a handbag or briefcase as there may not be anywhere to place items.
4. When you enter the interviewing room shake hands with everyone on the panel and try to remember who they are i.e. HR Representative, Line Manager etc.
5. Make eye contact with everyone on the panel and make sure they all feel included in your answers to questions by scanning all their faces.
6. Give the bulk of your attention though to the person who asked the question you are answering.
7. When you come to ask questions of your own, direct them primarily at the person who is chairing the interview, it will be obvious who this is.Good Luck
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