Panel Interview etiquette (employees, tips, work, company)

[ogplife]

I will have a four person panel interview next month. It has been a little while since I had one. We talk about interviews all the time here, but I think we are referring to individual interviews for the most part. Are there any subtle differences I should be aware of.

I know one obvious would be shake each interviewers hand.

Here is one question, During each question should you pick one person (maybe the person that asked the question?) and make eye contact with them or attempt to spread the eye contact around to each person on the panel?

Ironically I do panel interviews all the time (interviewer side), but me and the employees for company I work for don 't waste time with a lot of the BS interviewing techniques and we geniunely want the person that is best for the job. Anybody that can provide any tips, including the answer to that question would be of help.

[PG77]

Originally Posted by ogplife

I will have a four person panel interview next month. It has been a little while since I had one. We talk about interviews all the time here, but I think we are referring to individual interviews for the most part. Are there any subtle differences I should be aware of.

I know one obvious would be shake each interviewers hand.

Here is one question, During each question should you pick one person (maybe the person that asked the question?) and make eye contact with them or attempt to spread the eye contact around to each person on the panel?

Ironically I do panel interviews all the time (interviewer side), but me and the employees for company I work for don 't waste time with a lot of the BS interviewing techniques and we geniunely want the person that is best for the job. Anybody that can provide any tips, including the answer to that question would be of help.

I have been in interviews ranging from one to five people. I generally have eye contact with the person asking the question and then just briefly look around at the others in the room. I had a two person interview last week with one person asking their questions and then the second. I did basically the same. Not 100% sure if that is right, but that is what I do.

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by ogplife

I will have a four person panel interview next month. It has been a little while since I had one. We talk about interviews all the time here, but I think we are referring to individual interviews for the most part. Are there any subtle differences I should be aware of.

I know one obvious would be shake each interviewers hand.

Here is one question, During each question should you pick one person (maybe the person that asked the question?) and make eye contact with them or attempt to spread the eye contact around to each person on the panel?

Ironically I do panel interviews all the time (interviewer side), but me and the employees for company I work for don 't waste time with a lot of the BS interviewing techniques and we geniunely want the person that is best for the job. Anybody that can provide any tips, including the answer to that question would be of help.

What I did was train my eyes on the person asking the question, then after giving my answer, spread the eye contact to the other panel members. (You are correct, PG77)

Also, little things such as maintaining and upright posture, answering in a clear, concise manner and not fidgeting.

At my last panel interview, I made sure to get each person's name and wrote each one a thank-you e mail. I also e-mailed the director of the agency thanking him for his kind consideration and time. I eventually landed the job.

I used to do endless research on interview "techniques" and while some were helpful, I learned that basic niceties, common courtesy, a professional appearance and self confidence will see one through. It's not a complicated process from my expereice.

[black_fx_35]

I am a Corporate Recruiter with a F500 organization, and I routinely conduct panel interviews. I also conduct an interview tips workshops at some of the top MBA schools in the nation (Fuqua, Tepper, Wharton). I would say absolutely have eye contact with each person in the room, not just the person who asks you the question. You want to engage everyone, and make everyone feel comfortable. The only way to do this is to have eye contact with each person. 5 seconds at a time (or so), you don't want to change people every 2 seconds. Or gauge your eye contact based on where it naturally makes sense to change, based on what your verbal response is...