Surviving a Team Interview

Interview preparation is crucial whether you are meeting with one interviewer or a group of executives. Successful candidates practice interview questions, prepare responses and show awareness of the impact of body language. A team interview requires you to impress not just one interviewer but several who hold important positions within the company. Practice becomes a necessity to make a good impression and acquire the job.

Prior to the interview, ask the recruiter or human resources representative for the name and titles of the panel of managers who will be present during the team interview. Memorize names, research the individuals on the company website and know how each executive's job impacts the organization. This research helps you to understand what is important to all members present during the team interview.

Brainstorm questions each interviewer may ask you to show you are prepared. Each interviewer will likely ask you questions related to his or her department. For example, a sales manager may ask questions about your experience meeting sales goals, whereas a marketing manager may ask questions about your creative strategies and accomplishments. Cater your answers to show you have an understanding of the role of each member in the team interview, and provide honest and specific examples of how your past experience and skills can impact the specific department within the company, advises career coach and author Lisa Quast of Forbes.

In addition to preparing responses to common interview questions, your interview preparation should include a brainstorming session where you compile questions to ask specific members of the panel. Prepare questions that display your knowledge of the company, each individual's impact on the company and your willingness to impact the future of the company's success.

First impressions are crucial when striving to impress each member of a team interview. During the interview, make eye contact with each interviewer, offer a firm handshake to all executives present and divide your attention among all members of the panel.

Make connections during a panel interview by modifying your communication skills to engage with all team members frequently. Show active listening skills when answering questions by referring back to comments or questions from other members of the interview panel. When an office manager asks a question about your computer experience, detail your skills thoroughly and show how they would aid managers in other departments to make each response relevant to all members of the panel.

Creating a connection with each member of a team interview shows that you are prepared, knowledgeable about the company and insightful about how all departments work together. Interview candidates who show an interest in each interviewer, follow up personally with all members of the hiring committee and cater responses to specific departmental needs clearly stand out above the rest.

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