Career Q & A
By Michael Mayne
February 21, 2005
Whenever I have a panel interview, I get nervous and usually blow it! Any tips?
Panel interviews can be very intimidating for many job seekers. In the not-for-profit world, panel interviews are much more common than in other sectors as a way of screening potential new employees.
Be Prepared
The same rules apply with panel interviews as with any other type of interview - do your research. Find out as much as you possibly can about the organization, its mission, structure, recent fundraising initiatives, news, etc. Use your network to try to determine the organization's culture and the personalities of the individuals in the interview panel, if possible. This step is usually neglected by most job seekers, and it can really pay dividends.
Know to Whom You'll Be Talking
If you don't know, ASK! Try to do this when you are arranging the interview. It can be amazing to discover the types of information that the people setting up your interview time can divulge if you listen carefully - "Karen is our Executive Director, and she really liked your fundraising experience...", or "Bob is our finance guy, and he tends to focus on how well you know the numbers". Be sure to get the names and position titles of all attendees and memorize them.
Treat the Panel Interview as Many One-On-One Interviews
The most common issue we hear from job seekers is that they feel that they are 'on stage', with an intimidating audience on one side and them 'in the spotlight'. Naturally, insecurities and 'stage fright' can develop in this scenario. Try to reorient your thinking to make it a series of one-on-one interviews. Make eye contact with the person who asked you the question, but don't ignore the other members either.
Expect the Unexpected
Try to relax and learn from each experience. Try to set a goal of mastering the panel interview.
Michael Mayne, M.B.A., CMA, is Managing Partner and a Certified Professional Career Counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a Career Transition, Counselling, and Outplacement firm. Michael has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years, and is currently President of ALS Canada. To contact Michael, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.
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