Different Types Of Interviews

Before you start applying for jobs it’s probably a good idea to get familiar with many of the different types of interviews. It may be possible that you’ll be required to complete a variety of different types of interviews as you progress through the interview process at the same company.

Phone Interviews

Phone interviews are interviews that are given over the phone and typically between an employer and a recruiter or HR representative.  These interviews allow employers to learn if a candidate is a great fit for an actual interview and help narrow down the list of prospective candidates.

Often, these can occur on the fly when a representative calls the number on your resume. If you happen to miss a call, it is best to ensure you call back in a timely manner.  

In addition, when calling back a prospective employer, be sure you’re in a quiet location and prepared to discuss your experiences and interest in the position. This may require having your resume on hand or looking over some of the basic information about the company first. 

Virtual Interviews

Virtual interviews are common when you and the employer are in remote locations that don’t allow you to easily meet face-to-face. These are typical for candidates applying for remote jobs or for jobs out of state. Many times, these interviews serve as replacements for traditional interviews or may be required prior to the next stage of the interview which will be face-to-face. More often than not, employers may require you to use a webcam and dress professionally so that the experience is as close to a face to face interview as possible.

Similar to phone interviews, ensure you’re prepared for the interview and that you have a nice background in a well-lit area. Remove any distracting posters or images that may impact or distract your interviewer.

Traditional Interviews

In a typical interview, candidates are expected to go on as requested by the employer. These interviews typically require professional dress and are expected to last anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Unless this is an additional interview where the employer and candidate have already had previous conversations, short interviews may be indicative of negative performance.

Panel Interviews

It’s becoming more common for interviews to include more than one interviewer in order to expedite the interview process.

With more than one interviewer, candidates must be prepared to engage with and provide eye contact to two or more individuals.

The added personnel often leads to increased anxiety among applicants, so it may be best to get some practice speaking to groups beforehand.

Group Interviews

A group interview is an interview where multiple candidates are interviewing with a single interviewer. These are common with companies within the retail and hospitality industry.

During these interviews, candidates are evaluated on their ability to work under stress, with others, and on their individual skills and characteristics. 

Working Interviews

Working interviews are another type of interview that is becoming increasingly popular these days. In this type of interview, a candidate is required to produce a piece of work of some sort and present it to the interviewer or employer.

For example, if you are a writer and applying for a writing position at a news company. They may require you to write an article on a relevant topic and supply this article for review.

This work sample allows them to learn exactly the kind of work you’re able to produce and enables them to critique your skills and capabilities.

These often proceed with other interview types such as face-to-face or phone interviews where the interviewer may then learn additional information about your personality and communication skills.

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