Learn how to excel in different types of job interviews for career growth and success!
9 Types of Job Interviews & How to Nail Them
Job interviews are terrifying. But don’t worry, in this post we’ll cover 9 types of job interviews and how to do them all. We’ll also give you tips on how to prepare for each type of job interview so you blow Hiring Managers and recruiters away.
Job Interviews
1. In Person
- Research the company and be ready to talk in person about why you want to work there.
- Be able to talk about current trends in your industry.
- Practice your answers to common interview questions like “tell me about yourself” and “what are your strengths and weaknesses? in a mock interview.
Follow these and you’ll be good to go!
2. Group Interviews
Group interviews are when multiple candidates for the same job posting are interviewed at the same time. And there may be more than one interviewer. Group job interviews can be scary but follow these and you’ll nail the interview and get the job.
- Research. Find out as much as you can about the company and the position you’re interviewing for. This will help you stand out from the other candidates in group interviews and show you’re really interested in the job.
- Be prepared to answer strategic interview questions. Practice with a friend or family member so you feel comfortable when it comes time to answer the interviewer’s questions.
- Don’t be shy to sell yourself. In a group interview it’s important to let the interviewer know what makes you the best candidate for the job.
Do these and you’ll impress the recruiters in group interviews and give yourself the best chance of getting the job.
3. Behavioral Interviews
Behavioral interviewing is where the interviewer asks you questions about how you’ve handled situations in the past. The interviewer wants to know how you will handle situations in the future based on your past behavior.
To prepare for behavioral interviews:
- Think about some of the challenges you’ve faced in your previous roles. For each challenge think about what you did to overcome it.
- Be prepared to give specific examples of how you dealt with tough situations. When answering the interviewer’s questions try to be as honest and positive as possible.
- Remember the interviewer is looking for signs you’ll be a good employee so show them your best self.
With preparation you can crush a behavioral job interview and take your career to the next level.
4. Video Interview or Phone Interview
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom, video or phone interviews have become the norm for many employers. If you’re looking for a job it’s important to know how to prepare for and nail a video or phone screening interview.
Here are some tips:
- Make sure your internet connection is strong and stable. Nothing is more frustrating for both the interviewer and interviewee than a dropped call or frozen screen. Do a test run with a friend or family member before hand to make sure everything is working correctly.
- Choose a quiet, well lit spot for video interviews. You want the Hiring Manager to be able to see and hear you clearly so find a spot where there’s minimal background noise and distractions.
- Dress as you would for an in-person interview. First impressions matter even on Zoom so make sure you’re dressed professionally from head to toe. Avoid wearing anything too busy or bright that will be distracting on screen.
- Be aware of your body language. Just because the interviewer can’t see your lower half doesn’t mean you should slouch in your chair or lean back with your feet up on the desk! Sit up straight as if you were in an in-person interview.
5. Case Interview
A case interview is an interview where the employer gives you a business problem to solve. This is usually done in person but could also be done over the phone or via video.
The point of case interviews is to test your analytical and problem solving skills, ability to think on your feet and gauge future performance.
To prepare for a case interview:
- Get to know the types of business problems that may be presented. Practice solving these problems under time pressure.
- In the actual case interview take your time and think through each problem before giving a solution.
- Focus and stay calm and you’ll do great.
6. Brainteaser Interview
When it comes to preparing for a brainteaser job interview the key is to be prepared and practice ahead of time.
- Do some research on the company and the type of questions they ask.
- Then try to come up with some examples of brainteasers you may be asked. Practice solving these ahead of time so you’re comfortable with the format and can think through the problems quickly.
- On the day of the interview dress professionally and arrive early. This will help you stay calm and focused when it’s time to answer the questions.
- During the interview take your time and think through each question carefully before answering. If you get stuck don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
Do the above and you’ll do great!
7. Stress Interview
A stress interview is to see how you react under pressure. The interviewer will ask you rapid fire questions and may try to throw you off with stressful situations or unexpected topics.
In stress interviews you need to stay calm and composed and be able to think on your feet. Here’s how to prepare and ace a stress test interview:
- Do your research beforehand. Know the company inside out and be prepared to answer questions about your skills and experience and how you fit into the role.
- Stay calm. Take deep breaths and remember the interviewer is just testing how you react under pressure.
- Be flexible. Be prepared to switch gears at a moment’s notice and be comfortable thinking on your feet.
- Practice, practice, practice. Organize mock interviews. Ask a friend or family member to fire off random questions at you so you’re used to thinking quickly in an interview setting.
8. Committee/Panel Interview
Committee or panel interviews can be scary but there are things you can do to prepare and increase your chances of success.
- Research the organization and the role you are applying for. This will help you understand their culture and values and give you an idea of the type of questions they may ask in a panel interview.
- Practice answering common interview questions out loud with multiple interviewers like in a panel interview. Ask family, friends or colleagues to help you. This will help you sound confident and articulate when it’s your turn to speak in panel interviews.
- Dress for success and arrive early on the day of the interview.
9. Breakfast or Lunch Interviews
An off site interview can be scary especially if you’re interviewing for a customer facing role. However if you take the time to prepare for the interview and focus on projecting a professional and confident image you’ll increase your chances of impressing the hiring manager.
When it comes to preparing for a breakfast or lunch interview otherwise known as restaurant interviews remember:
- Dress for the role you’re interviewing for. If you’re unsure what to wear, dress more formally than you think you need to.
- Be ready to talk about your work experience. The interviewer will want to know how you would handle difficult situations so have some examples ready.
- Arrive early and take a few deep breaths before you go in. If you look confident and act professional you’ll do great.
Interview Tips Summary
- Dress more formally than you think you need to.
- Be ready to talk about your past performance and work experience and handling tasks/projects.
- In a formal interview or even an on-the-spot interview the interviewer will want to know how you would handle difficult challenges or situations so have some examples ready.
- Look confident, act professional, communicate well and you’ll do great in this part of the application process – and get the job.
Good luck!
FAQs
Types of InterviewsWhat is an informational interview?
In today’s job market it’s more and more important to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is by doing informational interviews.
An informational interview is a meeting where you speak with someone who works in the industry you’re interested in to learn more about the industry and get insight into what it’s like to work in that industry.
Hiring Managers often do these types of structured interviews at career fairs but you can also organize an unstructured interview with experts in your chosen career field.
These are great for career planning as you get to learn about different career paths and meet industry experts.
Doing an informational interview shows you’re serious about your career goals and willing to go that extra mile to learn more about the industry you’re interested in.
So if you want to impress potential employers scheduling some informational interviews should be on your to-do list.
What’s a career fair?
A career fair interview allows you to do multiple interviews with different employers in one place, a time saving way to talk about your skills, learn about job openings and get feedback straight away.
Each informal interview is short but gives you a better insight into the job market and improves your interview skills. Career fairs also have workshops and seminars that are good for personal and professional development.
What’s the difference between a screening interview and a final interview?
Employers use two types of interviews to screen candidates: screening interviews and final interviews.
Screening interviews are usually phone or video interviews and are an initial way to see if the candidate has the skills and experience the employer is looking for.
Final interviews are in-person meetings that are to further assess the candidate’s qualifications. During a final interview the employer will often ask more detailed questions about the candidate’s experience and may also tell you more about the company and the role.
The goal of a final interview is to help the employer decide if you’re right for the organisation.
What are exit interviews?
Exit interviews are done with employees leaving an organisation, usually at the end of their employment.
The purpose of an exit interview is to get feedback about the employee’s experience, including their satisfaction with their job and their interactions with colleagues and managers.
The information collected can be used to improve the workplace and make it more attractive to future employees.
Exit interviews are usually done by HR but sometimes by the departing employee’s supervisor. The interview is usually 30-60 minutes and the questions asked will vary depending on the organisation.
What is a competency based interview process?
Competency based interviews focus on assessing a candidate’s ability to do specific tasks or behaviour related to success in a role.
Competency based interviews are used in recruitment as they provide a structured way to evaluate candidates against predetermined criteria. This makes them great for finding candidates that can do the job.
When doing a competency based interview you need to identify the specific competencies required for success in the role. These can be technical skills or personal attributes.
