How to Stand Out in a Panel Interview

There appears to be a growing trend towards more panel or group interviews and it is becoming increasingly common for job seekers to meet with panels of three or more decision makers in one interview. Career Journal recently ran an article about panel interviews that’s worth taking a look at. Here are a few of my own tips on how to survive a panel interview.

1.  When you meet each person on the panel, ask for a business card. Before the interview begins, place the cards in front of you and facing in the direction of the appropriate person to help you remember the names of the people you are interviewing with. Refer to each person by name during the conversation to personalize your responses and build rapport with the group.
2. Don’t assume that the most senior person is the decision maker. Frequently business leaders rely on their team to help make decisions about candidates. Be sure to include everyone in the conversation. If one person in the group asks you a question, begin your answer by responding to that person, but then make eye contact with the others to build rapport with everyone in the room.
3. Try to size up the agenda of everyone in the group. The needs of the marketing, operations, and sales teams will be different, so make sure you can showcase stories of success that will resonate with the different business heads you are interviewing with.
4. Send everyone in the group a thank you letter and make sure each letter is unique. The thank you letter is a great tool for reconnecting with the hiring team, but in order to be seen as authentic, you need to communicate your thanks to each person individually and avoid redundant content. Try to focus on one key point or exchange with each person you interviewed with. It’s a bit of extra work, but in the long run, it’s worth it.