What is it
• This can as few as two and as many as ten people interviewing you at the same time. Often linked with the Aggressive / Stress interview technique (see 4.5.2). Outside of the public sector, panel interviews are not a common interview practice.
• Seating arrangements can be indicative of the kind of interview you are going to face. If you are sat alone on a chair in front of the panel arrayed in a straight line in front of you it is a pretty good bet that you are going to be in for a grilling.
• More sympathetic arrangements might include the panel being sat round a large table with a space for you to join them.
• Typically in a panel interview each member of the panel will be assigned to ask questions on a particular skill or competency, and there will be an overall chairman.
How to deal with it
• To handle this interview well, you must appear to be confident, don't hesitate too long before you give an answer. Watch your posture and try not to fidget too much.
• Ensure that you treat all members of the panel equally. Don't address all your answers to the chairman, nor to whomsoever it was who asked. Make good eye contact with each member of the panel.
• Some panels deliberately contain a "Devil's advocate". If so, do not allow this person to get under your skin, and answer their questions in the same way as every other member. Equally well, their may be the "good cop, bad cop" game. The way round it is to treat each member of the panel equally.