Interviews are a great way to learn about your candidates and determine how suitable they are for a position. They provide the opportunity for hiring managers to gain a glimpse of the skills of different candidates, see how well their personality fits in with the team culture, and learn about their experiences. But what kinds of interviews are most effective?
We believe that there are many benefits to panel interviews that aren’t taken advantage of during a one-on-one interview. Keep in mind that by a panel interview we’re referring to an interview with multiple interviewers and one candidate, conducted in a panel setting. While they can be very beneficial, they can, however, also have their disadvantages. Keep reading to discover the pros and cons of panel interviews, which will help you determine which type of interview process is best for your company.
The Advantages
Greater Perspective
One of the biggest benefits of panel interviews is having multiple perspectives to help your team select the most suitable candidate. It can be hard to use your judgement if you’re deciding between two very suitable candidates for the same position and you’re feeling stuck. By having multiple people in the room, you will have different perspectives and judgements to work with. Others might notice or pick up on something that you didn’t, giving you more information and more points to work with – especially if you have people with different expertise together.
Less Bias
With greater perspective also comes less bias. Maybe your designated hiring manager will favor a client for a specific personality trait or skill, like they both speak the same language. It may not be intentional, but the hiring manager might be subconsciously influenced by a particular skill that makes him gravitate towards a particular candidate, even if they’re not the most suitable person for the job, in terms of relevant skills and experience. The more perspectives you have, the lower your chances will be on hiring a candidate from a biased perspective.
Opportunity to Test Candidates’ Skills
One of the most important qualities of a good worker is the ability to work under stressful conditions. There’s no doubt that interviews can be nerve-wracking, but seeing how a candidate performs under these situations can really showcase their skills. And because panel interviews tend to be a little more stressful, they can really show how a candidate will perform under these types of situations. You’ll be able to see how well they think on the spot and under pressure, which will show you a lot about what type of candidate they are.
See How They Fit in With the Culture
During an interview the hiring manager might get along great with a particular candidate, but maybe not so great with another. It can be difficult to determine how well a candidate fits in with the company culture and team based on the conversation with one hiring manager. In panel interviews, a candidate is given the opportunity to communicate with several employees and see how well they get along with each one – which wouldn’t be possible with a two-person interview.
Save Time
During an interview the hiring manager might get along great with a particular candidate, but maybe not so great with another. It can be difficult to determine how well a candidate fits in with the company culture and team based on the conversation with one hiring manager. In panel interviews, a candidate is given the opportunity to communicate with several employees and see how well they get along with each one – which wouldn’t be possible with a two-person interview.
The Disadvantages
Time
If you’re focused on creating a workplace that’s highly efficient, taking time out of multiple people’s days can generate an impact. Interviews can be lengthy and time-consuming, especially when you’re trying to find the perfect candidate for the position. Do keep in mind, however, that finding the right candidate is an extremely important process that requires a lot of time, energy, and dedication to be put into the process. It’s easy to find someone for the job, but it’s a lot harder to find the right someone.
May Impact the Candidate
Because panel interviews tend to put more pressure on candidates and cause more stress, a very suitable candidate might not be able to put their best foot forward. Maybe a particular candidate is an excellent worker who would fit the position perfectly and has all the necessary skills, but he or she does not excel in interviews and would get overwhelmed by a panel interview. They may feel more comfortable speaking with just one hiring manager and be able to better demonstrate the skills they have for that position.
Risk of Disagreements
Maybe you’re conducting a panel interview but the interviewers have different goals, objectives, and questions in mind. They may be interested in asking the candidate different questions, which could throw the interview off track and lead it in a different direction, or cause them to interrupt each other. One interviewer may also dominate the conversation and ask the majority of questions, while the others sit back and don’t have the opportunity to speak. These problems can be avoided by staying organized and setting time for each interviewer to ask the questions they prepared ahead of time. However, disagreements can also occur during the decision-making stage when interviewers like different candidates.
While panel interviews offer many advantages such as greater perspective, less bias, and the ability to see how well candidates fit in accordingly with the skills required and the company’s culture, panel interviews can be time-consuming and affect a candidate’s ability to perform their best. Although they’re beneficial and offer many advantages, it’s important to take the drawbacks into consideration as well. Staying organized and understanding that candidates are under a lot of pressure can help with the interviewing process. If you’re looking to hire foreign nationals, make sure you check out the PERM Advertising Requirements for the Bay Area for more information and legal requirements on posting immigration ads in the Bay Area.
