What Is a Panel Interview? Questions & Winning Answers

Many candidates, when reviewing the details of an upcoming interview, suddenly realize that it’s a panel interview.

Instead of the usual one-on-one setup, they’re now facing a group of interviewers all at once. 

Cue the nerves!

Before you start picturing an intense interrogation, take a breath. 

Panel interviews aren’t as scary as they sound.

Companies use them to speed up the hiring process and get input from multiple decision-makers in one go. 

This article explains what is a panel interview, why it is conducted, who the panel consists of, and how to crush it with the right strategy. 

What Is a Panel Interview?

A panel interview is where more than one interviewer (from different departments or levels of the organization) assesses you simultaneously.

According to OPM.gov, there are around 2 to 4 panel members in a panel interview usually.

It’s a bit more like a group discussion where you’re in the spotlight.

The interview questions will come at you from different angles, and they will be fast-paced.

You don’t get as much breathing room between questions.

You may answer one interviewer only to have another interject with a follow-up before you’ve fully processed your response.

How you handle the pressure and maintain composure is a big part of the assessment.

You will also sometimes hear the word “group interview” being thrown around.

So, I thought it’s best to address what is the difference between a panel interview and a group interview. 

In a panel interview, you are the only candidate being interviewed, but there are multiple interviewers from different roles.

A group interview, however, involves multiple candidates being interviewed at the same time to see how well you interact in a group setting.

How It Differs From One-on-One Interviews

A one-on-one interview is more conversational and focused on building rapport with a single person. But a panel interview is a whole different beast.

Here’s what makes it different: 

• Instead of tailoring your answers to one interviewer’s preferences, you must juggle different perspectives, some friendly and some more skeptical.

• In panel interviews, there’s little time to settle in. One panelist would ask you a big-picture question, while another would jump in with a technical follow-up.

• If you focus only on the person who asked the question and ignore the rest, it’ll seem like you don’t know how to connect with a group.

• Some panelists intentionally challenge you (not to be mean, but to see how you handle tough situations). Think of it as a stress test: how do you react when the stakes are high?

Why Employers Use Panel Interviews

You know what is a panel style interview, but now you’re probably wondering, Why on earth would an employer put me through a panel interview? 

A few reasons why panel interviews are conducted include:

1. Efficiency: Instead of dragging you through multiple rounds of one-on-one interviews over days or weeks, they bring everyone into one room and get it done.

2. Real-world assessment: Employers want to see how you interact with different personalities—just like you would in the actual job. It’s a test of your interpersonal skills where you’re being observed in real time for how you handle different questions and potential conflicts. 

3. Group decision-making: In big companies, hiring a new team member is not just one person’s call. They want different perspectives from HR, team members, and leadership before making a decision.

4. Testing your cultural fit from different angles: It’s one thing to be qualified for a role, but it’s another to be the right fit for the team. Panel interviews can accurately judge if you mesh well with different personalities and working styles. 

Who Is on a Panel Interview?

Now, who exactly should you expect sitting on the other side of the interview table, grilling you with questions?

Let’s look at the common panel members and what they’re likely looking for as they evaluate you.

Common Panel Members (HR, Hiring Manager, Team Leads)

In a panel interview, you’ll find a mix of individuals, each of whom brings their unique perspective to the table.

First up, there will be an HR representative.

They don’t necessarily assess your technical details but are more concerned with how you present yourself and your soft skills.

There will also be a hiring manager, the most direct connection to the role you’re applying for.

They’ll ask detailed questions about your skills and problem-solving abilities and will be looking for concrete examples that demonstrate how you can contribute to the team’s success. 

The team leads often round out the panel, and they evaluate how well you’ll integrate with the existing team.

In some cases, you find an executive or senior leadership member sitting in on the interview.

While this isn’t always the case, when it does happen, they’re looking for your alignment with the company’s long-term goals and vision.

How Each Interviewer Evaluates Candidates

Each panel member evaluates you through a different lens. 

HR will be focused on cultural alignment.

They’ll look for signs that you understand and respect the company’s culture and ask questions that reveal your professional demeanor.

HR is also paying close attention to your enthusiasm for the role. 

The Hiring Manager will check your qualifications and ask behavioral and situational questions to gauge how you’ve handled challenges in the past.

They’re assessing whether you can hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. 

The team leads mostly observe how you interact with the team. They’re interested in your approach to collaboration and how you handle group dynamics.

They’ll ask questions about your conflict resolution skills and your ability to work under pressure. 

How to Prepare for a Panel Interview 

Preparing for a panel interview isn’t all that different from any other interview.

Follow these tips to prepare well for it: 

• Know who you’ll be facing: If the company shares the panelists beforehand (some do, some don’t), take advantage of that information. 

• Be prepared to be grilled from all angles: You can take help from AI chat to look up role-specific questions and prepare impactful answers. Also, be ready for behavioral questions, situational scenarios, and culture-fit questions.

• Practice with a mock panel: Gather a couple of people you trust (friends/family) and ask them to act as panelists. Make them throw questions at you just like they would in the interview. Practice staying calm and not getting rattled when two people ask for follow-ups at once. You can also use ChatGPT’s real-time voice assistant feature to practice interview questions.

• Manage your nerves: Before you walk into the interview room, take a moment to focus on your breathing. Slow and steady. Practice a mental check-in with yourself: “I know my stuff. I’m confident. I can handle this.”

• Practice engagement: Panel interviews are as much about how you engage with the room as they are about the answers you give. Make eye contact with everyone. And, of course, don’t forget the power of a genuine smile. 

• Have your questions ready: At the end of the interview, you’ll likely be asked if you have any questions for the panel. Don’t just ask generic questions like, “What’s the company culture?” or “What are the biggest challenges for the team?” Instead, ask targeted questions for each panel member. Your quality of questions can also make an impact on your interviewers.

Common Panel Interview Questions & Best Answers

Here’s a list of some common panel interview questions you will likely face, along with the best strategies to answer them. 

Q1. Tell us about yourself.

“I’m currently working as a marketing strategist at [ABC] Company, where I lead a team that focuses on digital campaigns. I obtained a Master’s In Digital Marketing from [XYZ] University.

Over the last few years, I’ve gained experience in data analytics and content strategy while working with cross-functional teams.” 

Q2. Why do you want to work here?

“I’ve always admired [XYZ] company’s commitment to innovation, especially in your work with sustainable energy solutions.

I’m passionate about using technology to solve global challenges, and I think my experience in developing digital marketing strategies for tech companies could bring even more awareness to your groundbreaking work.”

Q3. Tell us about a time when you faced a challenging situation at work. How did you handle it?

“At my previous job, we faced a sudden system crash just before a major product launch. The task was to get everything back online while minimizing delays.

I took charge by coordinating between the IT team and product managers and working with the team to quickly address the most pressing issues. As a result, we launched only a day late, and the feedback from customers was overwhelmingly positive.” 

Q4. How do you handle working with a team?

“I thrive in team settings because I believe that collaboration brings out the best ideas. For example, in my last project, I worked with a diverse group of designers, marketers, and developers.

We had different working styles, but with open communication and setting clear expectations, we were able to deliver the project ahead of schedule.”

Q5. How do you prioritize tasks when handling multiple deadlines?

“I use a combination of task management tools like Trello and time-blocking techniques to stay on top of deadlines. I always assess the urgency of each task and prioritize the high-impact tasks first.

If I ever feel overwhelmed, I make sure to communicate with my team if something needs to be re-prioritized.”

Q6. What do you know about our company’s products or services?

“I’ve been following your company’s development of the [XYZ] product, and I’m really impressed by how it’s revolutionizing the renewable energy sector.

Your ability to balance sustainability with efficiency is something I admire, and I’d love to be part of a team that’s pushing the envelope in such an important industry.”

Q7. Where do you see yourself in five years?

“In five years, I see myself in a leadership role, ideally leading a team within the marketing department. I’m excited about the opportunities here, especially given your emphasis on innovation, and I’d love to be a part of that growth.”

These are the answers just to give you an idea about how you should respond to such questions.

You can use them as a guide and tailor your answers with personal anecdotes so that they hit home. 

One of the signs you will get the job after the interview is that you answer every question with a touch of personalization, not just the textbook answer.

How AI Tools Can Help You Ace a Panel Interview

Before you can impress anyone in an interview, you need to get invited to one first, which starts with a resume that grabs instant attention. 

The good news is that you can use Undetectable AI Resume Builder to pack your resume with all the right keywords.

All you have to do is: 

1. Choose a template
2. Let AI optimize it by highlighting your skills and adding industry-specific keywords
3. Once it’s ready, save it in the format of your choice and apply with confidence

For most job applications, you’ll also need a cover letter to complement your resume. 

Try using Undetectable AI Cover Letter Generator to pull data from your LinkedIn profile and get a custom cover letter tailored to the specific job.

Make a few quick edits if needed, then download and send it off.

You can also use Undetectable AI for automated job searches.

All you have to do is upload your resume, customize your job search using filters, and auto-apply to multiple jobs with one click. 

Make sure to check out our AI Detector and Humanizer conveniently in the widget below!

FAQs About Panel Interviews

Conclusion

Just hearing the word “Panel interview” might overwhelm you and bring out various emotions, and it’s only natural. However, you already have the skills and what it takes to ace it. 

You only need the right guidance as to how it will be, which you have gotten through this guide (hopefully).

But to put the icing on the cake, why not use AI as your wingman (or wingwoman)?

No, I don’t mean using AI to answer the interview questions for you (that would be a terrible idea). 

I mean taking help from AI beforehand to prepare you well. You can use our AI Chat to ask questions and get feedback on your answers as well.

So sign up for Undetectable AI today, and let’s get the prep going.