Types of Interviews
In professional interviewing, we shall almost always go through a series of interviews. As a general rule, each subsequent interview will become longer and more detailed. These are some basic types of interview styles you may encounter. Some employers may choose to utilize a combination of different styles. The best thing you can do to prepare is to understand each kind and its intention from the interviewer’s perspective.
1.Phone Interviews Most screening interviews are done by phone, but phone interviews will also be used for other reasons, such as geographic obstacles – the applicant lives in another city or state. In this case, phone interviews will be longer and more detailed. Here are a few do’s and don’ts of phone interviews in all situations: (more…) |
Stress interviewing is a generally ineffective and antiquated interview method, and most – but unfortunately not all – employers have discontinued this practice. The theory is to see how you react to stress. The interviewer may make the room physically uncomfortable by turning up the heat, make the candidate sit in an uncomfortable chair or sometimes even stand, ask off-the-wall questions that have nothing to do with the job and possibly refuse to answer your questions. Today’s job candidates are too sophisticated to tolerate these methods and this technique is very ineffective.
You may be asked to do a “group” interview, which is the opposite of a panel interview. Instead of several interviewers and one candidate, one interviewer will sometimes interview several candidates at the same time. The interviewer will ask questions of no one in particular in hopes that a “leader” will emerge. Group interviews are not very effective for most situations and are rarely used.
Sometimes the employer will take you to an interview lunch or even dinner. Interview lunches are very unstructured, and they will probably be evaluating your social skills and manners. If you haven’t yet done so, make a point of attending the University Career Center Professional Etiquette dinner to familiarize yourself with the basics of dining etiquette. When ordering off the menu, stick with something in the mid-range of prices that’s easy to eat. Never under any circumstances order an alcoholic drink during a lunch or dinner interview.
In a serial interview you will meet with several people throughout the day, usually back-to-back. One person will interview you, then pass you to the next person, and so on throughout the day. Serial interviews are physically and mentally tiring because they can often take the entire day. Remember that each time you are passed onward your chances of being hired improve!
Serial interviews are typically used for senior-level positions, but there are exceptions.
Sometimes the employer will have a “selection committee” or for some other reason there will be multiple people involved in conducting interviews. They may want to conduct a “panel interview” in which you will be interviewed by several people at the same time. Panel interviews are very
efficient from the employer’s perspective because it allows them, in effect, to do many interviews all at once.
Remember that in a panel interview you must connect with and engage every member of the panel, not just the person asking the question. Make sure you get a business card from every panel member and send each a thank you note afterwards.
Always bring extra resumes and offer one to each member of the panel at the beginning of the interview.
This is the most common interview method and involves you and the interviewer alone in a private office. Once you are face-to-face with the interviewer your dress, appearance, non-verbal communication skills and other visual factors, as well as your verbal communication skills will come into play. Building rapport with the interviewer is usually easiest in this setting.
In all interviewing situations the key to success is good preparation. The more effort you put into it, the better your odds of succeeding.
If you’ve found these helpful, please take a look at our other topic interview related interviewquiz.net!
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