Different Types of Interviews

Before getting hired, you will have to go through a series of interviews of different formats. Some companies prefer in-person interviews, while others conduct group meetings. There are various types of forums and resources available to hiring managers depending on their needs. Sometimes, they will even combine different models. Knowledge of the basic types of interviews will help you to be prepared for any situation. We are going to provide you with all the necessary knowledge about job interview formats and how to get ready for them. So relax and keep reading this manual.

If they like your resume, the hiring manager will appoint a day and time to meet with you. From this point on, you must use every opportunity to make a positive impression. So what awaits you at the interview?

The Phone Screen Interview

Quite often, hiring managers prefer to call an applicant and ask a few questions before setting up a meeting at the office. The benefit of this is that you can have notes in front of you to assist you with the responses. If you decide to use Skype or another online tool for communication, check your screen name. It should be clear and understandable. The best option is to provide a first and last name. It will also demonstrate that you are not prone to over-complicating things.

The Video Interview

Recruiters often schedule a video call in order to save their time. You will be informed in advance of the time of the call. It is important to be well-prepared. Make sure your appearance is appropriate. Find a bright place with a neutral background. Check your device to verify it runs smoothly. Ask a friend to call you before the conference to check that everything is working properly.

The In-Person Interview

Also known as face-to-face, an in-person interview is, perhaps, the most common type of meeting. You come to the office and talk in private with the hiring manager. To successfully pass through the selection, you must demonstrate professional skills. Clearly answer the questions of the recruiter. Avoid stumbling and attempts to change the topic. It is advised that to effectively cope with this interview style, you should practice in front of a mirror. To prepare, you can also ask a friend to question you, imitating a business meeting. Arrive at the company on time, and dress in business-style attire.

Lunch/Dinner Interview

Recruiters use lots of different types of interviews, but a lunch/dinner interview gives an idea of ​​the applicant's interpersonal skills and manners. The typical fault of inexperienced applicants is to order lots of dishes. You did not come to eat, you came to demonstrate your skills. It’s best to order tea or coffee and maybe some dessert, not to make your interviewer uncomfortable by ordering lots of food. Watch your appearance. It must be appropriate for the time and location. Quite often hiring managers ask spontaneous questions in this setting, as they want to look at the contender in their natural environment. So be prepared to maintain a dialogue on a variety of topics.

Panel Interview

The nature of a panel interview is that several company members will interview you at once. This is an effective way to gather multiple opinions about the candidate and determine how well suited they are for a job. This type of interview method may seem intimidating because you are caught in a crossfire of questions. To prepare, ask the recruiter who will be interviewing you and do a little research in advance online. This will give you a better understanding of what to get ready for. Pay attention to all people who are present in the room, and redirect your eye contact between each employee.

Group Interview

When a recruiter invites you for a group interview, this means they want to see how each candidate behaves in a team. With this type of interview technique, a group of applicants is examined together in the same room. This usually occurs when companies are looking for several employees for one position. This format has gained popularity recently, as it helps the recruiter save time. To demonstrate how well you work in a team, try to be a leader when possible in this situation. This does not mean that you need to take all the attention to yourself. You should try to involve each competitor in the process, showing your leadership and directive skills.

Behavioral Interview

Most employers want to be sure that they are hiring the best specialist who is able to carry out tasks efficiently. In a behavioral interview, you will have to provide answers about specific situations in your professional activity. The hiring manager wants to hear examples of how you dealt with certain cases in order to understand how well you are prepared for work in the company. In other words, your past results will be evaluated to predict future behavior. You should adhere to the following structure: the specific situation, your tasks, the actions that you have taken, and the obtained result.

The Sequential Interview

In a sequential interview you are interviewed one-by-one by several company representatives on the same day or over the course of several days. A candidate may be questioned by one recruiter a couple of times during a couple of days, week, or even longer. This format allows the hiring manager to get to know the applicant better, and the applicant receives the opportunity to study information about the company in more detail. You may find this tedious, as different people will ask you the same questions. But it is important to adhere to one answer each time and always provide accurate information.

Formal / Informal Interviews

A formal interview evaluates your technical skills. You will come to the office and answer a recruiter's questions about your qualifications. The conversation will be held in an official manner. An informal interview is focused on assessing your soft skills, so the interview will feel easier and less stressful. A recruiter may want to meet you outside the office’s walls, offering a more cozy atmosphere. The recruiter's goal is to help you relax to get as much information from you as possible. In such a dialogue, many candidates run the risk of saying too much. So, always be vigilant and remember that you are at a business meeting.

The Stress Interview

The stress interview is one way to select candidates for senior positions. The recruiter will create a stressful situation for the applicant to assess how well they are able to work under pressure. Various hard and soft skills can be identified and evaluated during such an interview. The hiring manager may ask direct, uncomfortable, or tough questions. So answer clearly and do not lose hope in any circumstances.

The Puzzle Interview

The puzzle interview gets its name because of its format of using puzzle questions. It was originally introduced by Google, and many companies have since picked up on this idea. The bottom line is that a recruiter will ask you different tricky questions or give you tricky tasks in order to evaluate the way you think. This type of interview helps the hiring manager to evaluate a candidate’s creativity, logic, and analytical thinking.