types of interviews

Interview will take and what are the major steps involved in the interview. Job interviews are all about finding the right fit between the employer and potential employee. Job seekers going on interviews can expect different styles of interviewing. 

There are 8 major types of interviews

Informational Interview 

An Informational Interview is a meeting in which a job seeker asks for career and industry advice rather than employment. The theme of informational interview is to ask for advice and learn more about a particular career field, employer or particular job. This leads to find employment leads and expand their professional network. The knowledge that you gain here will make you a sharper and ready for interview.

For this the job seeker should update his knowledge from career and social networking, newspaper want ads, job boards, placement services, company websites, trade association and professional meetings, human resource contacts, professors and teachers, job search engines, and professional recruiters. 

Screening or Telephone Interview

A phone interview is a very cost effective way to screen candidates.  These can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. You should prepare for it like an open book exam.  It is recommended that you have in front of you your resume, the job description, a list of references, some prepared answers to challenging questions and perhaps something about the company. The vast majority of communication is non-verbal. Because they can’t see your body language, it is critically important to have positive and polished answers with energetic tone and inflection.  Be sure to ask what the next step is.

Individual Interview

This is the most common type and often called a “personal interview.”  It is typically a one-on-one exchange at the organizations offices. In order to best prepare you will want to know the length of the individual interview which can usually range from 30 to 90 minutes.  If the interview is 30 minutes you have to be concise and have a high impact with your answers.  If  individual interview is 60 or 90 minutes you will want to go into much more depth and use specific examples to support your generalizations.

Small Group or Committee Interview

Small Group Interview is where you will be meeting with several decision-makers at once. This can be an intimidating experience if you are not prepared.  Small Group Interview is an efficient way to interview candidates and allows for different interpretations or perceptions of the same answer.  Be sure to make eye contact with everyone, no matter who asked the question.  It’s important to establish rapport with each member of the interview team.  Try to find out the names and job titles of the participants.

The Second or On-Site Interview

After your first interview, you may be asked back again for a “second date.”  They like you enough that you made the first round of cuts, but they would like to know more about you before making their final decision.  Second Interviews can last either a half or full-day so it is best to check again and get an agenda.  You may be meeting with three to five individuals. This may include a representative from Human Resources, the department head, the office staff and the department head’s supervisor.  Be alert and enthusiastic at all times!  The more you know about the structure of the process, the less anxious you are going to feel and the better you will perform.  This is the last step before an offer is made.