Outnumbered? Don't panic. How to ace a panel interview – live chat

Picture the scene: you walk into a job interview and five people stare back at you. Your eyes flicker between them. Who do you look at? Your heart begins to race. Who do you give your answers to?

Being outnumbered is undoubtably scary, but if you end up in a group interview it’s vital to know how to build a rapport with your potential future bosses.

“The golden rule of a panel interview is to engage with the whole panel, not just one specific member of the group,” says Steven Kirkpatrick, former chief executive of national recruitment company Cordant Recruitment.

Body language is also important when you’re trying to engage several interviewers. “When sitting down, maintain an open, positive and engaged body position. Don’t fidget, sit up straight and lean slightly forward in your chair,” adds Kirkpatrick.

So, if you have an upcoming panel interview and need advice on how to impress multiple interviewers and get the job – join us on Wednesday 14 October from 1–3pm BST for a live chat with the experts. We will discuss:

• How to prepare for a panel interview.
• Ways to stand out and impress.
• Tips on engaging with a group of recruiters

The Q&A will take place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: create a free Guardian account, or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profiles to comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions to charlotte.seager@theguardian.com, who can post them for you.

Comments are currently open and we welcome questions in advance.

Panel

Claire Jenkins is a job interview expert and founder of 121 Interview Coaching. She works with individuals to improve their interview technique. Claire is also a senior visiting careers lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton and Worcester University.

Sarah Connell is a business psychologist and founder of MindingMe Psychologists. She understands the psychology of coaching from a cognitive-behavioural perspective and works with people to help them to understand how their thoughts affect their performance. Connell has helped people overcome stress with preparing for presentations and job interviews.

Hannah Morton Hedges has 12 years experience as a careers adviser and now runs Momentum Careers Advice. Prior to this she gained experience as an in-house recruiter for a variety of blue-chip companies.

Cathy Lovell is student services manager for The Open University, working to help students build confidence during the job application process. Prior to joining The OU, Cathy worked as a careers adviser for a variety of organisations.

Lisa LaRue is a qualified career coach with over 15 years experience. She runs CareerWorx, a career consultancy providing CV advice, interview coaching, outplacement support and job skills training.

Rachel Locke is an adviser for the National Careers Service. Previously she has worked in retail, finance and administration and has had several student-facing roles at Newcastle College, Northumbria University and the careers service at Newcastle University.

Victoria McLean, CV writer and interview coach, is the founder of CityCV.co.uk. She is a former recruitment manager at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, and is a multiple prize winner in the global CV writing industry awards.

Bev White is managing director of Penna Career Services. As well as leading the Career Transition business, she is also global chair of Career Star Group and president of the UK and European Association of Career Firms.

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