Panel Interviews VS Jobseekers

What is the most common perception, about panel interviews, that exists among jobseekers? Most of the people hold the view that panel interviews are about a strictly uncomfortable setting where the jobseekers will be confronted with sophisticated professionals. Panel interviews are one of those job interview types that help employers assess whether the candidate or the interviewee would exactly fit in with a particular organizational position. In most cases, the interview feels very apprehensive and becomes panicky. The fact, however, is that employers never want to make candidates anxious or stressed. Read on to find answers to questions like - when do employers hold panel interviews? What exactly is a panel interview? And how can candidates pull through in case they face a panel interview?

What is a panel interview?
A panel interview is quite similar to the standard one-on-one job interview except for the fact that the number of interviewers in this case is multiple. A panel interview has sophisticated professionals including a panel leader and other panel members. As there is not just one interviewer, questions asked are also multiple, all relating to the job position the candidate has applied for. Taking turns, each of the panel members ask the interview questions to make an assessment of the skill sets, the behavioral attributes and the professional experience of the candidate. After the job interview is over, each of the panel interview members rates the interviewee as per their own perceptions about the candidate's eligibility for the job position. The final decision comes only after all the panel members simultaneously agree that the interviewee is really a deserving candidate.

What is the purpose of holding panel interviews?
Organizations hold panel interviews for a number of reasons. These interviews help the organization to fully assess the eligibility of the job seekers over a short period of time. By holding such interviews, the organization can easily find out whether the jobseeker is actually able to tackle pressure and communicate well across all levels of the organization. The panel interview, therefore, proves to be an effective tool for a heightened behavioral testing and character assessment of the jobseeker. Panel members get the opportunity to check and affirm the candidacy of a jobseeker from different angles. It is through panel interviews that it can be said that the outcome is quite just.

How to prepare for panel interviews
As a jobseeker, you can begin with what you do to prepare for a traditional one-on-one job interview. First and foremost, you need to do your research regarding the organization's background, the marketplaces it caters to and the work culture that prevails there. Besides being quite familiar with all of these, you also need to be mentally prepared for the panel interview you are going to face. Just visualize yourself surrounded by 2-6 professionals and answering to each of their questions in a respective manner and at ease. Try to end the job interview on a positive note and do rehearsals as many times as you can. This is also to be kept in mind that you are not there only to answer questions put up by the panel members. You also need to ask your own questions. Therefore, be ready with a set of your own intelligent questions.

What to do on the day of the panel interview
Just be relaxed and remember that you have rehearsed quite well and are really ready to face the questions asked by the panel members. You are quite aware of your strength areas and you are there to communicate in a well respected and convincing manner. Keep the eye contact and keep giving smiles in between. This is also to be noted that you do not target your questions at only one of the panel members. You have to able to communicate to each one of the panel members and convince them that you are a potentially deserving candidate for the job position you have applied for. Take your time while answering the questions and do not shy away from asking for clarification, in case a particular question is not clear to you.

What to do after the panel interview is over
Give it a little more effort. Get the names and positions of the each of those people who were among the panel members. Now, it's time to write a thank you note to each of these panel members separately. Thank the panel members for their valuable time and presence.