I will be interviewed virtually by 5 people at the same time.

Question

Seems a bit daunting. Any advice?

Nirupama Raghavan · Answer

I suggest that you create a note mat for yourself.  List out the names of each interviewer and their titles.  Leave plenty of space under each to take notes on what each person is asking/telling you about the company.  This will help you with personalized thank you notes after the interview.

During the meeting, when listening,  alternate between looking directly into the camera and looking at the person speaking to you.  The former will allow them to feel heard and the latter will allow you to watch their body language.

When responding, alternate between looking directly into the camera and looking at all interviewers to see their reactions.
(I promise that this is easier than it may sound.)

The biggest risk is people talking over each other, so you may have to defer to them a lot.

Good luck!

Mariska Bogle · Answer

Thank you. I appreciate hearing the other perspective.

Melissa Nobile · Answer

We are currently interviewing for a new priest for our parish. There are 7 on the committee and really have to have panel interviews. We have a list of questions for each interview and we  keep the list consistent with each and every candidate so we can accurately compare. We do try not to bombard the candidate with questions, as we definitely don’t want to intimidate. 
I think the best thing to remember is that everyone in the interview wants the best candidate for the position. They aren’t there to trip you up. They want to get to know about you and your skill set. The panel interview allows everyone to hear the answers to the questions at the same time, so when the panel meets to discuss the candidate, it’s a much faster process. 
Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

remember that at least ONE of those people is just there for formality... they are not probably going to engage very much. OR, they are members of the team... and seeing how they interact with each other might provide you with valuable insight.

Amy Carothers · Answer

Make sure to connect with each interviewer. While primarily looking into the camera, we tend to focus on it instead of making eye contact. Unbeknownst to you,  someone might feel slighted or ignored and that person might end up being the deciding factor. Remember in-person interview etiquette and try to adhere to it as much as possible. It's all about connections and making the case regarding what you bring to the table while helping the department/company.

Carrie Topolski · Answer

I went through a panel interview before.  It's a bit challenging but the most important thing is to make sure that you test out your video and audio.  You want good lighting. The lighting should be in front of you and not behind you as it tends to darken the picture.

The best thing you can do from there is sit back and let them ask their questions.   The one I did I thought I totally flopped but they ended up hiring me.  Just be honest with your answers. If you don't know the answer then ask them to rephrase it. If you still don't know the answer then explain just that!  I found they were more responsive to me saying I didn't know how to do something or how to answer a question then trying to make up a story of me thinking I knew.

Wishing you the best of luck.  Stay strong and stay confident!  You've got this!

Eva Steortz · Answer

PRACTICE! Be sure you have rehearsed answers to the most common interview questions. VISUALIZE SUCCESS! Right before the call do a victory pose and imagine them being quite obviously impressed with your awesomeness. BE REAL! It's ok to smile and admit you need a moment to think before answering if you do feel overwhelmed at any time.  HAVE FUN WITH IT! It's easier to think of all of these challenges as part of life's grand adventure. You got this!!!!!

Kimberley Ferretti Hammett · Answer

Remember that it's porbably a little daunting and uncomfortable for them too. See if you can set up a zoom with a couple friends beforehand and let them grill you a bit and practice but also learn to have fun with it. Simply being comfortable in the format is an opportunity to impress because most people are not and they probably don't expect you to. 
Also, it would be a great opportunity for you to be able to share/present things you may not normally get to in an in-person format. You could share your PDF resume on the screen for everyone and even have some other visuals handy on your desktop to share!

Best of luck!

Anonymous · Answer

The idea of five people sounds daunting but there is an advantage to this format - which is the ability to have a conversation.  One on one interviews are fine but not all interviewers are equally talented - aka if an interview doesn't go well it's not always our 'fault'. 
With my previous group interviews I found it much easier to have a conversation and people typically chimed in to build on comments or observations made by their peers. I learned a lot from watching and listening to these dynamics. 
In one situation I did not know the answer to a question and instead asked the group how they hand handled it - which led to a really lively discussion. 
At any rate this might sound Pollyannaish but my experiences with group interviews have not been stoic turn taking where someone asks a question and everyone else remains stone faced and silent while I responded. I hope yours will not be, either.

Andrea Tibbetts · Answer

I have had a three person virtual interview.   The most impressive  move I made (ha ha..at least I thought I was clever :) ) is asking them questions about their job. It is equally important for you to be happy and to know a good bit about the company. Ask specific questions that they can answer about their roles in the company.  It make them feel good about themselves and it shows you know what they do for the company. For example, I asked the person over the department I'd be working in how he felt about the recent change they made to their manufacturing process. My point is that they too are on interview. Make it work both ways.

I will be interviewed virtually by 5 people at the same time.

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