Candidates often get nervous when attending panel interviews especially those with gloss phobia (a fear of public speaking). The idea of speaking and answering accurately, questions were thrown by a group of interviewers at a quick interval can make one edgy and anxious. This can lead to the candidate turning down such invitations due to the fear of failure.
A panel interview is when two or more interviewers interview the candidate at the same time. This interview is different from a multiple interviews where two or more interviewers interview multiple candidates at the same time. Panel interviews are not a common approach adopted by employers in hiring professionals rather they are common in proposal presentations, sales pitch, academic thesis defense, etc. However, where an employer chooses to adopt a panel interview approach; it is to get a realistic preview of how candidates perform under pressure. Hence, candidates need not be anxious or nervous. This nervousness may be due to the thought of finding appropriate answers to the questions asked at quick intervals. Here are best panel interview tips to survive too many questions;
Preparation
One of the best tips for a panel interview is preparation. A panel interview like any other interview requires preparation. Such preparation is not any different from the preparations, a candidate makes when attending a job interview. These includes; reviewing the job responsibilities, practicing common and industry-specific interview questions, conducting background research on the company and also the professional experience of prospective members of the interview panel.
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Body Language:
Another tip for surviving panel interviews is body language. The ability for the candidate to have the appropriate body language during the interview and be able to read the panel members’ body language is important. Body language is important as it is a silent mode of communication. A candidate with good body language communicates confidence while a bad body language communicates nervousness and anxiety. Good body language entails an upright posture, good eye contact and often a firm handshake. Also, maintaining good eye contact with all panel members when responding to questions shows that the candidate’s undivided attention is on all not just the person asking the question. Therefore, opening room for interactive conversation between the panel members and the candidate. Apart from maintaining good body language during the interview, the candidate should be able to read the body language of the panel members. This helps the candidate to tailor his responses to be able to elicit positive responses from the panel members.
Be Interactive:
Interaction is key in a panel interview and is an important tip for surviving a panel interview. Where a candidate is tensed and nervous during a panel interview it can close room for interaction and leave room for interrogation. Nerves can make the candidate unsettled and blind to interaction even when the panel leaves a clear path. Therefore, it is important to maintain a good body language during the interview. Also, where a candidate had done adequate research on the company, a common ground can be easily established. This interview tip is important as it relieves the atmosphere from tension and takes the pressure off the candidate. Also, responses should be engaging and opening room for discussion with the panelists.
These tips are not exhaustive, but they are key in the tips for surviving a panelist interview. Other tips include being polite and patient. Polite to speak well and loudly enough and patient enough to listen and pay attention to the panelist questions.