For employers: Organizing the interview panel

Interviews must operate efficiently. Panel members must know their roles, and be familiar with the requirements of the interview. Conveners need to brief panel members and establish clear procedures.

Preliminary organization of the interview panel

It's advisable to conduct a meeting of panel members prior to the interview, and go through delegations of questions and responsibilities in detail.

If unfamiliar with any of the panel members, the convener should briefly discuss with them their own jobs, to discover any useful skills for their interview roles.

Note: Inexperienced interviewers should NOT sit on any complex or highly technically oriented interview panels. They can't contribute effectively. Conveners should specify a need for experienced panel members with the necessary background in these cases.

Orientation of panel members

It's often, and frequently destructively, forgotten that panel members must have a working knowledge of both the job under discussion and their roles.

Panel members must receive in their orientation:

• Times and place of attendance at the interview.
• Information regarding any security requirements for entry.
• A clear description of the job
• Explanations of the job criteria and required skill levels
• A clear understanding of their role at the interview
• Instructions regarding their tasks, including use of evaluation grids or other notes taken during the interview.
• Briefing on any technical aspects of the interview regarding skills. (If a specialist is present, that person should conduct the briefing.)
• The opportunity to ask questions and comment. (Note: experienced interviewers on a panel can contribute a lot of useful information and work. They act as extra quality controls.)

Roles of panel members

Depending on expertise, panel members are assigned roles which usually involve them asking at least one question to the interviewees.

They should study their question(s) prior to the interview, and be able to ask the convener for any necessary information.

If the convener deems it necessary, a “rehearsal” can be done, to give panel members experience in using evaluation grids and taking notes. This is a simple run through of the evaluation grid or note taking process so the panel know what information is required.

Troubleshooting panels

It occasionally happens that a panel member isn't a useful contributor. They lack competency, or don't seem to understand their roles. Conveners should make a judgment call regarding any panelist who appears inadequate, and get a replacement if they're not satisfied.

Non attendance of panel members

It's usually a good idea to have at least one person on standby for a role at the interview panel in case of a no show by a panel member. This person should attend the pre interview panel meeting and be able to fill in as required.