What is a hiring panel?

A hiring panel is a group of individuals assembled to conduct interviews and assess candidates for a specific role. The panel typically consists of people who understand the role and may work closely with the person being hired. Here are some key points from experts about hiring panels:

1. Composition:

   • A hiring panel usually comprises 3 to 5 members who are well-versed in the role and might work closely with the candidate. This can include internal team members or even board members or advisors if necessary 1.
   • The panel should be diverse, covering various perspectives and expertise areas relevant to the role 2.

2. Process:

   • It's important to start by clearly defining the core competencies required for the role and how you'll test them. This is followed by phone screens, and then the panel interview where specific competencies are assigned to each panel member to evaluate 3.
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       Tailored Hiring Panels

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       Unique Hiring Process

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       Structuring Hiring Process

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       Hiring Process Insights

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       Hiring Decision Ownership

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   • The aim is to create a structured and repeatable way to assess each competency without redundancy. This means avoiding overlapping questions and ensuring each panel member focuses on different aspects 4.

3. Challenges:

   • A common challenge is the lack of structure and order, leading to ineffective evaluation. Structured interviews with clear role definitions and tailored questions help mitigate this 3.
   • It’s also useful to calibrate the candidates against the hiring bar set by the hiring manager to ensure that only qualified candidates are interviewed by the panel 5.

4. Decision Making:

   • Although panels provide diverse inputs, the ultimate hiring decision should rest with the hiring manager, as they will be directly working with the new hire 6.

In summary, a hiring panel is a carefully selected group aimed at thoroughly evaluating a candidate's suitability for a role through a structured and well-organized process.