Depending on the job you are applying for, there are several types of job interviews that your potential employer may conduct.
Before you go for your interview, it’s important that you make sure that you are informed about what type of interview that will be conducted, so that you can prepare for it appropriately.
Here are the six of the most common types of job interviews.
Traditional one-on-one interview:
In a traditional one-on-one interview, you will be interviewed by an individual representative of the company. The interviewer will most likely be the manager that the individual in the role you are interviewing for will report to, or in some case, you may be interviewed by the HR manager. It is likely that you will be asked about your skills, experience, and what you can offer to the company in this type of interview.
Panel interview:
In a panel interview you will be interviewed by several interviewers, who are likely to be representatives of different departments within the company. You could be interviewed by representatives of the management team, the HR team and also members of the team that you will be working in, if you are hired for the position. Each person on the panel will ask you questions that are relevant to their respective position.
Behavioral interview:
In behavioural interviews, you will be asked questions based on situations that have arisen in your previous jobs. For example, the interviewer might ask you to tell him or her about the most difficult decision you had to make in your past position. The goal of the interviewer is to test your problem-solving skills.
Group interview:
Sometimes a company conducts group interviews to pre-screen candidates. A group interview usually begins with a brief presentation about the company, and then the interviewer may ask each candidate to speak one at a time. A group interview allows the interviewer to observe how the candidates interact with each other and also how confident they are speaking in front of others.
Telephone interview:
With the advancement in technology, many companies hold job interviews by phone or Skype. This type of job interview is particularly common with companies who allow their employees to work remotely. If your potential employer is interested in hiring you after the phone interview, he or she may ask you to come in for an in-person interview.
Competency-based interview:
A competency-based interview is often used to evaluate a candidate’s skills and capabilities. It is very similar to a behavioural interview, but there are some fundamental differences in terms of interviewing processes. In a competency-based interview, the employer will ask you to demonstrate your abilities in a particular skill that is required for the position you are applying for and you may be asked to undergo skills tests and assessments.
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