How to Handle a Panel Interview

It’s like you’ve just been dropped into an episode of Shark Tank.

You may feel like you’re under fire when you have a panel interview of 4 or 5 evaluators aiming their toughest interview questions your way. While a panel interview is designed to save an interviewer’s time and assess how well candidates handle pressure, it can put even the most composed college student or recent grad on edge. Fortunately, there are ways to showcase your impressive qualities (and not your nerves), allowing you to focus on making a great connection with each of your evaluators and land the job. Here’s how.

1. Get to know as much as you can about each interviewer

Research each interviewer before you walk into the office so that instead of walking into a room full of strangers, you’ll have some sense of familiarity. First and foremost, remember their names: This will allow you to slip a first name into an answer so that your responses sound more personal and genuine. Then, research any commonalities with your interviewers: Maybe one of the interviewers went to your alma mater, or maybe one of your interviewers was on the varsity soccer team, just like you. Gather as much information as you can before the interview so that you can easily connect with each person on a personal level — it will show that you care about getting the position, and it will make you far more comfortable and relaxed during your interview.

Knowing as much as possible about each interviewer can also help you when you’re preparing to ask questions at the end. You can target each person’s expertise and skill set to get the best answer possible about their department’s culture and their perspective on how your role can support their own.

2. Introduce yourself to each interviewer

When you walk into your panel interview, don’t throw out a quick, “Hi, everyone!” and sit in your seat. It may seem awkward to go out of your way to interact with each interviewer, but go up to each person, give them a firm handshake, smile and introduce yourself. This will set you up to make a good first impression!

3. Make great eye contact

When you respond to one interviewer’s question, don’t just direct your attention to that interviewer. Start by making eye contact with the person who asked the question, then make your way through the panel as you complete your response. Engage with your interviewers in the same way that you would engage with a group of your friends: Make sure you’re acknowledging everyone and talking to the group, not just to one individual.

4. Follow up with each interviewer

Do not send a group thank you note! Make sure you ask for each interviewer’s business card at the end of the interview or contact the head recruiter to ask him or her for your interviewers’ information. Then, send a personalized thank you note to each of your interviewers – do not send them all the same email! Include something specific to each interviewer – especially if it’s something you learned about them during the interview or a piece of information that helped you to better connect with them on a personal level. (Sometimes, recruiters won’t share the interviewers’ emails, in which case, you should send notes to the recruiter and ask him or her to pass it along to the panel interviewers.)

Be genuine, treat each one of your interviewers as if they have equal weight in the decision-making process, and follow these tips. That way, you’ll be able to walk into your next panel interview feeling way less intimidated.