Panel interview

A panel interview is a job interview format where multiple interviewers—often from different departments or roles—interview a candidate at the same time.

Homebase Team

Min Read

What is a panel interview?

A panel interview is a job interview format where multiple interviewers—often from different departments or roles—interview a candidate at the same time. Instead of meeting with one hiring manager, the candidate answers questions from a panel of two or more people, which may include team leads, supervisors, business owners, or even future coworkers.

For small business owners, a panel interview can be a smart way to make better hiring decisions faster. It brings together different perspectives, helps reduce bias, and creates alignment before you extend an offer. If you're juggling hiring along with day-to-day operations, sign up for Homebase to post jobs, schedule interviews, and collaborate on hiring decisions all in one place.

Why panel interviews are useful for small businesses

Panel interviews can seem intimidating—but they’re not just for big companies. Small teams can benefit from them too:

Involve multiple decision-makers at once – Saves time and cuts down on repeat interviews
Get a broader perspective – Each panelist may notice different strengths or red flags
Ensure better team fit – Including team members helps assess cultural compatibility
Speed up the hiring process – One consolidated interview instead of three separate rounds

This format is especially helpful when hiring for key roles that affect multiple parts of your business—like shift managers, trainers, or customer-facing team leads.

How a panel interview works

Here’s how a typical panel interview is structured:

Number of panelists – Usually between 2–5 people
Timing – Most panel interviews last 30–60 minutes
Question format – Panelists may take turns asking questions or follow a structured rotation
Evaluation – Each panelist takes notes and shares feedback after the interview ends

The goal is not to overwhelm the candidate—but to get well-rounded input from the team and make a more informed choice.

When to use a panel interview

Panel interviews are especially useful when:

The role affects multiple departments or teams
You need to hire quickly but thoroughly
You want to involve team members in the hiring process
The position has a leadership or cross-functional focus

Even for hourly or part-time roles, a quick panel chat with the hiring manager and a shift lead can make a difference in finding the right fit.

Best practices for running a panel interview

To make the process smooth and effective, follow these tips:

Choose your panel thoughtfully – Include people who work closely with the role or will help train the new hire
Prep your team in advance – Align on key traits you’re looking for and divide questions among panelists
Keep it conversational – Let the candidate speak and don’t interrupt each other
Ask consistent questions – Helps ensure fairness and comparability between candidates
Take notes during the interview – Then regroup as a panel afterward to discuss impressions

You want the experience to be professional and welcoming—remember, your candidate is evaluating you too.

Common mistakes to avoid

Overloading the panel – Too many voices can confuse or intimidate the candidate
Asking repetitive or disorganized questions
Not giving panelists time to meet beforehand
Forgetting to follow up quickly with feedback or next steps

A thoughtful panel interview process shows that your business values collaboration, structure, and clear communication.

How Homebase helps with hiring and interview coordination

Homebase gives small business owners the tools to coordinate panel interviews without endless email threads or spreadsheet chaos. Whether you’re hiring for one location or several, Homebase helps you:

Post open roles and collect applications in one dashboard
Schedule interviews and send reminders to team members and candidates
Store job descriptions, evaluation criteria, and interview notes in one place
Collaborate with your hiring panel by sharing notes and feedback

Explore Homebase’s Hiring & onboarding tools to streamline your interview process, align your team, and make great hires—together.

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