# Panel interviews: how to answer several people

> A panel interview is a job interview with two or more interviewers. In the public-sector panels described here, members take turns asking set questions, note what you say, rate each answer on a fixed scale and then agree a score. Give one specific example per question, say what you did yourself, and treat a follow-up as a prompt.

Source: https://zorlya.com/blog/panel-interview-how-to-answer-several-interviewers

By Zorlya. Published 2026-09-15. International and NGO jobs. 9 min read.

A panel interview is a job interview with two or more interviewers. In the public-sector panels described here, members take turns asking set questions, note what you say, rate each answer against a fixed scale and then agree a score, so answer each question with one specific example, say what you did yourself, and treat a follow-up question as a prompt, not a warning.

The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) describes structured interviews as generally having more than one interviewer, called a panel, and the Public Service Commission of Canada calls an interview board one made up of two or more people. A competency-based panel interview is one where every question asks for evidence of a named skill or behaviour from your past work.

## Who sits on an interview panel?

Panels are small, and their make-up is set by the employer. Here is what official guides say:

| Employer or guide | Panel size | Who sits on it |
|---|---|---|
| UN Secretariat | Normally three | UN staff members, including the hiring manager |
| Scottish Government | Two to three | People familiar with the role or grade |
| Public Service Commission of Canada (2009 guide) | Two or more | Possibly the immediate supervisor, the division director, an HR representative or a future co-worker |
| Global Fund | Three | The hiring manager, an HR recruiter and a neutral member from another department |
| World Bank Group | Panel or one-to-one | It says it prefers one-on-one interviews |

The Canadian guide adds that the hiring manager chooses the board, that it should reflect the diverse backgrounds of the applicants, and that the same members should interview every applicant where possible. OPM's guidance has one interviewer act as the chair, in charge of the arrangements. Read the invitation for the format. A 2017 leaflet from a UN mission says candidates are told the panel members' names in advance.

## How does a panel run the interview?

In a structured panel the questions are fixed. OPM's [structured interview guidance](https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/structured-interviews/structured-interviews.pdf) says every candidate is asked the same questions in the same order, each interviewer asks only the questions assigned to them, and a panel of trained interviewers takes detailed notes. The Canadian guide has the lead interviewer tell you at the start that members will take turns, take notes and leave time for your questions at the end.

Follow-up questions are planned, not personal. OPM says probes may be used to clarify an answer, bring a candidate back on track or get more information, and suggests asking for clarification when a candidate says "we did". The Canadian guide gives examples such as "What was your specific role in the project?" and "What was the outcome?", and says probes should not bring in new topics. The UN's guide says panels may keep probing until they have enough evidence.

The chair may also interrupt you. OPM lists the reasons: to control the pace, when a candidate talks too much, or when they go off topic. An interruption is part of the method, not a sign you have failed.

Expect the interview to last 30 to 60 minutes at the UN, and 45 to 60 minutes in the Scottish and Canadian guides, with 90 minutes as the Canadian maximum.

## How does a panel score your answers?

Each answer is scored against its own question. OPM says all responses are rated on the same scale and standards, usually with three to seven levels, and gives a five-point example running from 1, awareness, to 5, expert. It recommends equal weight for each competency. The Canadian guide's sample scale runs from 1, very poor, to 5, very strong, with 3 the first point at which a candidate meets the qualification.

The panel then turns several views into one result:

1. **Notes are read together.** OPM says interviewers read their notes to one another straight after the interview.
2. **Members rate alone first.** Both OPM and the Canadian guide have each member rate each answer on their own. The Canadian guide gives the reason: not to be influenced by the other members.
3. **The panel agrees.** OPM's FAQ says interviewers must reach a consensus, while its slides also list majority or average as options. The Canadian board agrees a single rating for each qualification, with one member chairing the discussion.
4. **Candidates are ranked.** The Scottish Government's panels meet once all interviews are done, give each candidate an overall score and make offers in merit order.

This is why each answer must stand on its own. A strong example given under the wrong question may not count where you hoped, so name the skill you are showing as you tell the example.

## How do you answer several interviewers?

None of the official guides we read tells candidates how to address several people at once, so the first point below is our own advice. The rest follows what the guides say panels do:

- **Answer the person who asked, and include the others.** Start with the questioner, then look at the other members from time to time. Do not be thrown if they are looking down: the Canadian guide says the notes are taken so you get full credit, and they record what you say, not how you say it.
- **Take a moment before you answer.** The Canadian guide's opening statement invites applicants to take a few moments to collect their thoughts.
- **Use one example per question, and say "I".** Be specific about what you did, how and why, and what the outcome was. The Canadian guide also says you may use the same example for more than one question.
- **Keep to time.** FAO's guidance suggests no more than three minutes per answer.
- **Do not script.** The Scottish Government, which now shares questions in advance, advises against writing or memorising full answers. Note key points and think about the follow-ups instead.
- **Ask your own questions.** OPM reminds interviewers that candidates are evaluating them too, and its guidance leaves time for your questions at the end.

[STAR method interview answers](/blog/star-method-interview-answers-for-competency-based-questions) shows how to build each example. If the panel is in a language you learned, [a job interview in a second language](/blog/job-interview-in-a-second-language-how-to-prepare) covers asking for a repeat and handling follow-ups.

On video, the UN's HR portal notes that you will pick up fewer body language cues than in person, so check with the panel that your answer covered what they asked.

### A worked example: the probe that helps you

Take an illustrative question: "Tell us about a time you improved a process." You describe how your team cut the time to approve supplier invoices from three weeks to one. A member asks: "What was your specific role?"

That probe is the panel looking for the evidence it can rate. A useful reply: "I mapped the approval steps, found that two sign-offs duplicated each other, and proposed dropping one. My manager approved it, and I trained the four clerks on the new route." Now the note-taker can write down your actions, and each member can rate them.

## Can you ask for adjustments?

Yes, at the employers whose rules we read. The Scottish Government's jobs site says candidates may ask for adjustments at any stage, gives examples such as extra time, a break between parts, the questions 24 hours in advance, and an in-person or online interview, and says asking will not affect the decision. The World Bank Group says you can request adjustments when you apply or at any point, such as extra time or flexible scheduling. The Canadian guide has the panel remind applicants of their right to accommodation. Ask early, through the contact in your invitation.

## How can Zorlya help you rehearse?

For a role in your Zorlya feed, interview prep writes eight questions for that role: three behavioural, three technical on the skills the posting asks for, and two on motivation and how you work. Each has a difficulty, a STAR outline drawn from your resume and a note on what the interviewer is really assessing. To rehearse a panel, give the questions to two or three friends, let each ask in turn and take notes, then compare how each would rate your answers. [Pricing](/pricing) shows what each plan includes, and [how to read a job posting](/blog/how-to-read-a-job-posting) helps you pick out the competencies the panel will test.

## Questions people ask

### How many people are on a panel interview?

Usually two or three. The UN Secretariat normally uses three, and the Scottish Government two to three.

### Why do panel members take notes?

So your answers can be rated fairly after the interview. The Canadian guide says notes are taken to make sure you get full credit, and OPM says they can be reviewed if a rating is appealed.

### Do all candidates get the same questions?

In a structured panel, yes. OPM says all candidates are asked the same questions in the same order.

### What should I do after a panel interview?

Note the date and the panel's names, and wait for the outcome from the recruitment team. [Tracking applications](/blog/track-applications-so-follow-ups-happen) shows how to keep the record.

## What we know and what we do not

The rules above come from OPM's structured interview slides and FAQs, which are undated, the Public Service Commission of Canada's 2009 guide, now archived and written for hiring managers, the Scottish Government's candidate guide updated in June 2026 and its adjustments page, the World Bank Group's hiring pages, the Global Fund's 2024 recruitment guide and the UN Secretariat's 2024 applicant guide. The Australian Public Service Commission's site and the UK Civil Service careers site refused our requests, and we found no readable official guide from Asia or Africa. No official guide we read says how to address several interviewers, so that advice is ours.