Schools that interview by panel demonstrate they value collaboration and teamwork.
You are prepared to make a great impression -- the big college interview is today -- but you didn't realize you would have to impress a panel of 10 people. Interviews make many people nervous; after all, interviewees are in the hot spot competing for something that others want just as badly. While finding out an entire panel has been gathered to drill you on your strengths and weaknesses may be daunting, it can be refreshing to know that more people means more opportunity to make a fabulous impression.
Instructions
1. Learn as much as you can about the college, the department and the key faculty or staff that will be interviewing you. Ask for the names of the panel members in advance. Research faculty's interests, past publications and what their research interests are.
2. Prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview. Use the information you learned about the school and panel members to form questions that they might find intriguing or interesting.
3. Identify your own strengths and weaknesses. Prepare to answer questions pertaining to them. Practice discussing your strengths and weaknesses, and come up with life examples where you demonstrated a strength or weakness and the outcome of the situation.
4. Take care of yourself and get in optimal condition for the interview. Get a good night's sleep before and eat healthy. Avoid coffee the morning of the interview if it makes you nervous. Dress to impress, wearing clothing that is interview appropriate, clean and professional.
5. Arrive up to 10 minutes early. Do not be late. Every panel member is expected to make it to the interview on time, even though many members have left busy schedules to accommodate the interview. Do not make them wait for you.
6. Shake the hands of all panel members, if appropriate. Get each panel member's name. If you knew the panel members' names before the interview, this will help; otherwise try to memorize them or jot the names on a note. Use their individual names during the interview, if possible.
7. Actively listen to each panel member when they speak. Make eye contact with the whole group, but particularly with whomever is speaking or asking you a question at that moment. Pace yourself for answering one question at a time as the group takes turns asking questions. Allow panel members enough time to write down your answers, as some members may write slower than others.
8. Identify which panel member is the authority and make an extra effort to impress this person. Follow up the interview with thank-you notes sent to each panel member. Vary the wording enough on each one so that it appears each thank-you note was personalized.
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