Tips to Ace in job Panel Interview

Panel interviews are an increasingly common part of interview. Panel interviews have only one candidate who is interviewed by a group of company representatives. The interviewers are usually the HR staff, the manager, team leader, who have different roles during the interview. Each panel interviewer will take turn to ask questions, and decisions can be made immediately as they can discuss right after the meeting.

The purpose of the job panel interview is to see how the applicant will react under pressure. But acing the panel interview can greatly increases your chance of grabbing the job you want.

A panel interview may be stressful, but when prepared, the candidate can implement some of the interview tips to succeed in panel interview

* Always remember to be enthusiastic and memorable as job panel interviews tend to be conducted when there are many candidates lined up for the same position in the company.

* During a job panel interview, since it becomes difficult to build a good rapport between you and each panel member. Make an effort to prepare an excellent introduction for a lasting first impression.

* Make an eye contact and firm handshakes while introducing yourself. Remember not to be in a hurry to do handshakes because it might make you look unconfident and nervous. Body language and behaviour is very important during panel interviews. 

* Try to be polite and attentive and ask them if they mind that you take notes during the interview. It is always helpful to get a pen and paper along with you, so that you can note down your interviewer's name as they are seated in case you'll forget them. You should come prepared to ask the panel members some questions after your interview.

* Good communication skills could also be demonstrated by you if you use their names as you respond to each of their questions. Being courteous is the key.

* Preparing for job panel interview, it’s always good to highlight the extent of your skills, knowledge and abilities to meet each interviewer's expectations, by preparing answers to common interview questions.

* While in the interview be sure to answer the person who asked the specific question keeping eye contact with that panel member.

Concentrate on answering one question with one interviewer at a time. And always speak clearly and concisely when answering questions to each of the panelists.

* Try to ask relevant questions at an appropriate time which indicates that you are very much interested and is full of initiatives. But avoid interrupting the interviewer and asking questions which appear to be challenging them when they know nothing about you. These might break attempts at establishing rapport with your panelists.

* Since the main aim of conducting panel interviews is to determine how well a candidate work under pressure. Therefore, it is important to remain calm and relaxed throughout the whole process. Do not underestimate this panel interview tip.

* As a follow-up send each panel member a thank-you letter after the interview. 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.