If you've had nightmares about job interviews — the kind in which you're naked and 20 minutes late — the interview in the dream almost certainly has been a panel interview.

There's just something about the idea of five or six people staring in silent judgment at a candidate seated in the center of the room on a folding chair with a bent leg. Who wouldn't have nightmares?

Clipart.com (ENLARGE)

AMY LINDGREN/WORKING STRATEGIES (ENLARGE)

alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com

The good thing about nightmares is that reality is almost never as bad. In fact, there are several reasons to be grateful when you are asked to a panel interview:

1. Any interview is better than none.

2. Panels allow you to impress several people at once.

3. Panels let you see the dynamics and teamwork among the interviewers.

4. Did I mention that any interview is better than none?

If you are scheduled for a panel interview, the proper response, of course, is "Thank you. I'm looking forward to meeting your committee." The next steps require more strategy.

Gather information.

Either when the meeting is set or during a later call, get more specifics about the interview. How many people are on the panel? What are their names and titles? How long will the meeting be? Will they be working from a list of predetermined questions, and, if so, can you get a copy in advance?

If you feel shy about asking for this information, remember that the invitation is unlikely to be rescinded at this point. Why not do what you can to prepare?

The second part of gathering information is to research the people on the panel. It might be enough to look at the company Web site and take a quick trip through an online search engine. You're not looking for personal details — rather, you want to know what everyone else knows. If one of the interviewers is outspoken in his or her field, for example, having that information could help you understand the reasons for the questions he or she asks you.

Prepare your answers.

If you got a list of the questions in advance, so much the better. But if not, evaluate what will be needed in the job, review your skills and knowledge, and look for matches. The things you can do that they need done likely will become your key messages in the interview.

You also need to prepare anecdotal examples from your previous jobs. If you prepare half a dozen, you likely will have the two or three you need. The key is to think about the interviewers and what they are most likely to ask, then prepare descriptive, brief anecdotes that make the point.

As you practice your key messages and anecdotes, try to adjust them for the group setting. For example, look for details that relate to one or more of the departments or projects represented by the different interviewers.

Prepare your materials.

One of the classiest things you can do when meeting with a panel is to bring a separate packet for each interviewer. These don't have to be customized; it's enough if each packet contains a clean copy of your materials. This counters the unfortunate reality that panelists often have poor photocopies of candidates' résumés and work samples — or may even be missing pages, depending on the clerical process for the meeting.

Relax and enjoy the meeting.

When you enter the room, if the logistics allow for it, shake the hand of each panelist and make eye contact. Once seated, make a subtle sketch of the room and jot down the name of each interviewer on your chart. This will help you respond more personally to questions.

Look at everyone when you answer each question, and keep your responses brief, to allow more people to participate.

Thank everyone in writing.

The final step is to write thank-you notes. You may be inclined to thank only the committee chair, but my advice is to send everyone a note. If you can't think of something personal for each one, don't worry. The interviewers usually are too busy to compare notes to see whether you repeated yourself. But they won't be too busy to notice that they received the same courtesy as the head of the committee.

As with any interview, remember that people hire people they like. Have fun!

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.