Tips For An Executive Panel Interview

In my mind, the executive panel interview can be the most nerve-wracking, and with the most potential for disaster. There are too many pairs of eyes on you and too many ego’s to massage and appetites to sate at such meetings.

Unfortunately for us mortals, these are a very popular way of interviewing at an executive level when a company is recruiting for advanced positions (or are just feeling mean). It’s all pretty daunting and it is advisable to accommodate the whole panel rather than just focusing on one or two people, no matter how important they are.

When you are asked a question directly by one person, it’s important to answer that person directly. You also have to be mindful of the others on the panel, and how your answers will be interpreted by them.

So far so complicated.

It’s a definite advantage of the panel interview that it saves you time. You are meeting everyone at once rather than going through numerous time consuming one to ones. It saves the company time and money also.

If you have done your homework, you will know who, amongst the throng are the ‘important people’. There is likely to be your potential manager, a potential colleague and even those higher up. This is a really important time to gain an insight into what and who you might be working with, and you should treat it as such and take the opportunity to find out more about them

Amongst the panel, it is likely that they have a ‘plan of action’ – who will ask what and when, each with their own focus. It is unlikely that only one person will be asking the questions but this could be the case. Even if it is, you can be sure that the rest of the panel will have a say in the recruitment decision, so do not dismiss your body language towards the others.

It is really important to acknowledge every body during the interview but always finish answering a question looking at the person who initially asked it. You may also notice that the questions during the interview may be more rapidly paced than normal one-to-one interviews.

You’ll probably find nameplates on the panel member’s desk, so no need to worry about remembering everybody’s’ name.

It is most important to remember to treat this interview and it’s preparation with the same care as a regular one. Do not get bogged down in the fact that there are more people around, albeit nerve wracking. Relax and be yourself. It’s an opportunity to show more people how great you’ll be in this next new role!