Tips for Navigating Panel Interviews as a Web Developer

Your technical interviewers will likely focus on coding questions while the non-tech ones will ask about your behavior and teamwork. I recommend looking into "STAR" (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to prep for those behavioral questions. They'll typically ask you about scenarios like resolving conflicts, mistakes you’ve made, or times you've gone the extra mile. Keep your stories concise and meaningful—you want your answers to feel natural, as if you're just recalling experiences rather than reading from a script!

I’ve found panel interviews to be actually fun! If you come in with passion, politeness, and enthusiasm, it’s easier to win over the non-technical HR folks. The technical interviews can be challenging, but they also help you realize where you might need to improve your skills. I’ve done a couple of these interviews and landed a job, so I promise you can do it too!

I recently went through a panel interview and managed to land the job! Here’s what worked for me: I focused on giving full attention to the interviewer asking the question, making sure to maintain eye contact with everyone present. I also admitted when I didn’t know something instead of trying to fake it. I emphasized my willingness to learn and adapt, which my now boss mentioned helped me stand out. Honesty really pays off, so don't be afraid to be candid about your knowledge gaps!

Here's a few quick tips: prepare as much as you can, be ready for at least one or two tough questions, and try to steer the conversation. If possible, ask them about the technologies they use to divert focus from yourself a bit!

Honestly, panel interviews feel like a bit of a waste. Back in the day, we didn’t need them, especially since developers can now find answers online. When I interview, I mainly check for foundational knowledge and whether the candidate will fit into the team culture. I'm more interested in their eagerness to tackle the job than a perfect answer.