M
M

MoreCompassion

Account Executive

Opinionated
Executive
Contributor
+4

How to close a panel interview

Hello savages :)


I am learning a lot and have built a solid process of getting interviews from my job search process. I've had a couple of interviews with hiring managers and I ask them at the end of the call - On a scale of 1-10 if 1 was never hire me and 10 was they should have hired me yesterday, where are they. The answer to this question normally tells me where they love me and what are their hesitations. This has been very helpful and I am getting very good feedback with this.


I am thinking of how I can do the same in panel interviews in the future. asking multiple people this seems to be harder.


What are some of the best closing methods at the end of panel interviews or multiple stakeholder demos?


Thank you :)

🎈 Mentorship
📈 Closing
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
8

14 comments

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HVACexpert
Politicker
6
sales engineer
Why not ask all of them? Also, treat the interview like a sales pitch, at the end you always ask for the sales. So in the interview ASK for the job to close it.
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
💀
☝️ wisdom
2
Regional Manager
Because when you treat everyone as an individual, they feel empowered and important as an individual, knowing you would work with their teams individually with the buy in from their manager while executing their vision. The key to a panel is getting all approvals not some of them. The mindset of sales is to close all deals. No one goes in to each quota wanting to close 70%.

This is not to say you are wrong. I agree with you entirely on closing everyone and anyone. Explaining my point thoroughly.
HVACexpert
Politicker
2
sales engineer
Sure the goal is to ‘close’ the entire panel, but in the end you need to close a majority. Also when I say to ask all of them you can still ask each one individually in the panel.

Just a thought. Good luck on your future interviews!

Let us know how it goes.
Rosie
Catalyst
1
Sales Director
Do you think it´s reasonable to ask for the sale after the interview panel. Wouldn´t it be a bit pushy? I mean, I can imagine them saying something like "We will get back to you" after asking. Even with prospects I ask for feedback "How does this sound to you? (referring to using product x)", often they respond with "It sounds good, I like x and z and I have to double check with Shakira and Jane and get back to you" then usually I say something like "When would have a decision for me" or "Do you think you could get back to me with a decision on date W.

But here really, especially if the interview panel has many C level managers. If during the Panel interview I am asked to present a study case then I´ll present it and later on allow them to ask questions, towards the end I´ll ask how does the plan (That I have presented during the panel) sound to you? And make them feel that for the plan to happen they need to hire me. I learned often that in these panel discussions companies want to learn how you would do something, many secretly expect free information regardless whether they hire or not hire you. I would use this as a golden opportunity just like with a prospect, show part of the gold (and if they want to know how to find all of it they have to hire me).
3
Regional Manager
Ask them all, if you were to get hired, how do they each envision you working with their teams. Close individually based on what they say. “If given the opportunity, I will ideate a plan, in the first 30 days, to take (their visions individually) as a forefront of my responsibilities. From what you saw/heard today, do you foresee me not living up to that?”
Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
Great question, It's great to ask them all the question but in a different form. Example.( Panelist #1, ask your boiler plate question. Panelist #2 "Where do you have concerns/pauses/hesitations about me based off what we discussed today?" they're putting you on the spot why can't you do the same to them?
Rosie
Catalyst
0
Sales Director
I love this advice right here!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
It's a different way of closing the interview. Good for remembering to do so.
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
It's always been my FAV!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpB1ewlDeGW/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
You might also think of a way to reflect back some of the questions they asked back to them - "panelist B, during the interview, you asked about how I would handle x situation. I'm wondering if you have any concerns about my response, and how you would have responded yourself".
Rosie
Catalyst
0
Sales Director
I would probably skip the "If you have any concerns" part and focus on how would you have responded. Since the earlier might be interpreted as me being insecure.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Maybe taking concerns out - you could say “I’d like some feedback on my response, and if you would have done anything differently “.
AnchorPoint
Politicker
1
Business Coach
It is a two way street... and you are the pro. What concern, if any, do you have? And I have thick skin, you will not hurt my feelings.

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