What are the best practices for preparing for a panel interview?

Do your homework! Research each of your panelists on LinkedIn to find out more about their history and the area of the business they work. This will also help you make some assumptions about their relationship to the role you're interviewing for. If you dont' know who your panelists will be - ask! The research will help you get insight into each of them, so you can not only prepare for the questions you'll need to answer, but it'll help you curate very thoughtful and tailored questions to ASK each one of them. The best way to nail a panel interview is to show insight and interest into each panelist's role, challenges, and concern, so you can be the white knight riding in on a horse and solve all of their problems!

Find ways to connect their story with yours - and articulate them. Research shows that when listening to a story, our "brain waves actually start to synchronize with those of the storyteller. " (Mensk, 2020). Stories that connect are the superpower of any interview.

Prepare for a panel interview by thoroughly researching the panelists and their roles, understanding the company's values and culture, and practicing concise responses to common interview questions. Showcase your ability to work in a team by addressing each panelist when answering questions and maintaining eye contact. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to illustrate your achievements, and prepare thoughtful questions to ask the panelists. Dress professionally, arrive early, and exude confidence while being mindful of body language and maintaining professionalism throughout the interview.

Find ways to showcase that you've done your research/homework on the company, culture, or initiatives while also asking questions about things that matter to you (and showcase your strengths). Additionally, as you build rapport, be sure to highlight how you can bring value, and get value (e.g., professional development) from the position/role.

In panel interviews, crafting compelling stories using methods like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and CARL (Challenge, Action, Result, Learning) is key. These narratives should not only showcase your skills but also demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and growth. Practice and feedback on your delivery are vital for success.

Almost every interview has the same format. Brainstorm a list of potential interview questions, and reflect on how the questions are designed to solicit certain types of answers/responses. For example, questions about conflict and/or dealing with challenges are ones designed to surface specific instances and/or how you have addressed issues in the past (because past performance is a good predictor of future performance).

Do your homework. Take a look at various sites like Glassdoor, Yelp, etc...See how folks are discussing and talking about the company and/or initiatives. See how LinkedIn networks are talking about the company. What are the common phrases that are used when describing the company--if they are positive and good, be sure to weave those into your responses, as well.

Don’t forget to ask your recruiter to give you some insights, they are mostly more than happy to help with that, you can also ask them for feedback and what are the main competences.

A large panel is very unpredictable. Practice your skills of answering a question, finishing it up quickly, and acknowledging another question right after finishing. Large panels are often potential co-workers or folks in areas that you would be working with. Sketch out and practice a few stories about how you collaborated and mutually solved issues with co-workers in other areas.

Stay calm. It can be very easy to get rattled when multiple people are asking you questions at the same time. If you're put in a situation where several questions are asked, address the first question that was asked. Repeat the question back this way, "To answer your question of ..." and it will help to demonstrate your listening skills. And the panel should respect how you are able to keep your composure.