Job Interviews

Job Interviews are the second phase of the employment hiring game. You have made it through because your resume was well-crafted enough to get you a live job interview. Now it's time to let your personality shine and your confidence flow. Review the job interview tips below to help you prepare for what can be a daunting process unless you are fully prepared. Honesty and sincerity go hand-in-hand with confidence and will be obvious to the human resources manager conducting the job interview.

Different types of job interviews and how to prepare for them

A job interview is often the second stage in landing a job. It is an opportunity for a prospect to impress the hirers and let them know of the positives that you can bring to the job. An interview is a make or break opportunity; which is why it is important to be prepared in terms of industry knowledge, general awareness, and any questions that you feel that can possibly be directed toward you. Also, it is advantageous to possess soft skills such as punctuality, a pleasing personality, and a team spirit.

There are a few standard types of job interviews; having an understanding of them will aid you in preparing for them.

Screening: It is usually conducted by the H.R department of a company; the objective of this interview is to confirm if you meet the minimum required standards set by the company. Also, the interviewer may wish to verify the information that you have stated in your resume.

Selection: If you clear the screening, the next step is the all important selection interview. In this step, the employer will be interested to find out if you have the skills and temperament to execute your job responsibilities and gel with the rest of the team. Companies place a lot of significance on the ability of an individual to work as a team member; often people lose out due to their inability to convince the interviewer of their suitability in terms of being good co-workers.

Group Interview: Several applicants are interviewed simultaneously, it gives the interviewer an idea of the team spirit of an individual and it divides the group into those that lead and those that follow. The selection depends on the requirements of the employer so there is not much that an individual can do in terms of preparing for a group interview.

Panel Interview: In a panel interview, a prospect has to face a barrage of questions from a panel; the questions may not even be related. It helps the employers get an idea of your ability to identify with different perspectives of the same issue.

Stress Interview: As suggested by the name, the objective of this interview is to artificially induce stress into the interview process and see how the interviewee copes with it. Techniques to unnerve the interviewee include asking questions rapidly, not responding to any queries from the prospect, making the interviewee wait before joining him for the interview. The prospect should ascertain if the job profile actually warrants such an interview and if he is willing to put up with the stress. You have the option of either answering the questions without losing your cool or refusing to go along with it.

There are not many secrets to preparing for an interview; the important points include preparing for some questions that are standard fare, such as your areas of improvement, your levels of motivation, etc. Grooming is important, your appearance is the first impression that you create. Dress according to the occasion. Allow the interviewer to take the lead; you have the option of keeping pace with him or maintaining a neutral attitude and tone. If given an opportunity to ask questions, be prepared to ask some pertinent ones.

Job Interview Center

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A strong resume and cover letter will get you an interview, but only a strong interview will land you a job. Please browse our informative interview section to learn how to prepare for an interview, answer common interview questions, establish rapport with the interviewer, and ultimately get the job. 


Learn more about the Screening, Informational, Directive, Meandering, Stress, Behavioral, Audition, Group, Tag-Team, Mealtime, and Follow-up Interviews.
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