Group and panel interviews can feel intimidating, especially in healthcare where expectations around professionalism, communication and values are high.
Instead of one conversation, you may be facing multiple interviewers, competing candidate, or both. It is not surprising many healthcare professionals find this format more challenging than a traditional one-to-one interview.
The good news? With the right operations and mindset, group and panel interviews can become an opportunity to stand out for all the right reasons.
Here is how to approach them with confidence and clarity.

1. Understand Why Employers Use Group and Panel Interviews

Healthcare organisations rarely choose these formats at random. They are designed to assess more than just technical expertise.

Employers are often looking for:

Communication and listening skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Leadership potential
Emotional intelligence
How you perform under pressure

Panel interviews help reduce bias and ensure fair decision-making, while group interviews allow employers to observe how candidates interact with others.

Reframing the format as an assessment of strengths, rather than a test to survive, can help nerves.

2. Prepare as Thoroughly as You Would for Any Interview

The fundamentals still apply.

Before the interview:

Research the organisation’s values, services and patient population
Understand the role and how it fits into the wider team
Prepare examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Review your CV and be ready to discuss it confidently

In panel interviews, questions may come from different angles, clinical operations and values based. Preparation helps you stay grounded regardless of who is asking.

3. Communicate Clearly and Include Everyone

In panel interviews, it is natural to focus on the person asking the question. However, strong candidates engage the whole room/

What to do:

Begin your answer by acknowledging the questioner
Make eye contact with other panel members are you speak
Keep your responses structured and concise

In group interviews, listening matters just as much as speaking. Avoid interrupting and build on others’ contributions where appropriate. Collaboration is often more impressive than dominance.

4. Show How You Work with Others, Not Against Them

In group exercises or discussions, recruiters are not looking for the loudest voice.

They are observing:

Respectful communication
Ability to encourage quieter participants
Willingness to compromise
Focus on patient outcomes and shared goals

Simple actions make a big difference:

Acknowledge others’ ideas
Ask clarifying questions
Help steer the discussion if it loses focus

Healthcare is inherently collaborative. Demonstrating that you work well with others is often more valuable than showcasing individual brilliance.

5. Bring Values and Patient-Centred Thinking into Your Answers

Technical skills can be taught. Values are harder to develop.

Employers want to see:

Compassion and empathy
Ethical decision-making
Awareness of patient safety and quality of care
Alignment with organisational values

Where possible, link your answers back to patient outcomes, service improvement or team wellbeing. This signals that you understand the bigger picture of healthcare delivery.

6. Manage Nerves Without Letting Them Take Over

Feeling nervous is completely normal, especially in a room full of observers or peers.

Helpful strategies includes:

Slowing your breathing before you speak
Pausing briefly to gather your thoughts
Asking for clarification if a question is unclear

Remember, panel members expect nerves. What matters more is how you respond and recover, not whether you appear perfectly polished.

7. Ask Thoughtful Questions at the End

The questions you ask can leave a lasting impression.

Consider asking about:

Team culture and support
Training and development opportunities
How success is measured in the role
Challenges the team is currently facing

Avoid questions that can easily be answered by the website. Show curiosity and genuine interest in contributing to the organisation.

Final Thought

Group and panel interviews are not designed to catch you out. They are a way for healthcare employers to understand how you think, communicate and collaborate in real-world scenarios.

Prepare well, stay authentic and remember that your experience, perspective and values are exactly what the panel wants to see.

If you are navigating the healthcare hiring process and want honest advice, insight and support, contact our expert recruiters at Fertility Talent or simply call us on 01904 230002.

How to Ace Group and Panel Interviews in Healthcare