Panel Interview Tips

10/28/2026

By Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, licensed speech-language pathologist

Short answer: in a panel interview, answer the person who asked the question, but include everyone. Start with the asker, bring in the other panelists with brief eye contact, and finish with the asker. Speak a little louder and slower than you would one-on-one, and keep each answer short enough that the whole panel can follow it.

A panel interview means several people interview you at the same time. You see them in job interviews and in admissions interviews for medical school and other programs. As a speech-language pathologist, I help clients with the speaking side of it: being heard, being easy to follow, and staying steady in front of a group.

How to Prepare for a Panel Interview

  • Find out who's on the panel. If you get names and roles, think about what each person is likely to care about.
  • Prepare a few flexible examples. Four or five short stories from your experience can answer most questions. For behavioral questions, the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) is one simple way to organize them.
  • Practice with more than one listener. Ask two or three people to ask you questions, and practice moving your attention from one to another.
  • Practice saying names. If you know the panelists' names, say them out loud a few times so they come easily.

Where to Look

  1. Start with the person who asked. Your first sentence goes to them.
  2. Bring in the others. As you give your example, look at each of the other panelists for a moment.
  3. Finish with the person who asked. Come back to them for your last sentence.

Even the quietest panelist is part of the decision, so include them too.

How to Sound Clear to a Group

  • Project a little more. Your voice has to reach the person farthest from you. Breathe low and speak on the exhale, so you get volume without strain. My page on voice projection describes how I train it.
  • Slow down. With several listeners, there are more chances that someone misses a word. Speak in short phrases and pause between them.
  • Make your key words clear. Names, numbers, and the words that carry your point should be a little longer and stronger.
  • Keep answers short. Give your main point first, one example, and a clear ending, so there's time for every panelist's questions.

Handling Panel Moments

  • A follow-up from someone else: turn to the new person and answer them, then bring the group back in.
  • Two people start talking at once: pause, and let them decide who goes first.
  • A question you didn't catch: ask them to repeat it. That's better than answering the wrong question.
  • Your mind goes blank: take a breath, repeat the question back, and go to your main point. See how to calm your nerves before an interview.

Virtual Panel Interviews

On video, use gallery view so you can see everyone. Look at the lens when you make your key points, and say a person's name when you answer their question, since eye contact is hard to see on a screen. My Zoom interview tips cover the setup.

Practice With Feedback

For job interviews, professional voice training is private coaching on Zoom for a stronger voice and clear, confident speaking in interviews, meetings, and presentations. For medical school, health program, and graduate school panels, see admissions interview coaching. Both are $250 an hour, and the Planning Session is free.

See professional voice training

Common Questions

What is a panel interview?

A panel interview is an interview where several people interview you at the same time, instead of one interviewer. They're common in job interviews and in admissions interviews for medical school and other programs.

Who should I look at in a panel interview?

Start your answer by looking at the person who asked the question. Then include the other panelists with brief eye contact, and look back at the person who asked as you finish.

How do I prepare for a panel interview?

Find out who will be on the panel if you can, prepare a few short examples you can adapt to different questions, and practice out loud with two or three people asking questions.

How is a panel interview different from a one-on-one interview?

Several people interview you at the same time. You need to answer one person while speaking to the whole group, and to keep your voice loud and clear enough to reach everyone.

How do I handle a virtual panel interview?

Use gallery view so you can see everyone, look at the camera lens when you make your key points, and say the person's name when you answer a question, since eye contact is hard to read on video.



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