Different types of Job Interview

When job-hunting, it pays to be aware of and prepared for whatever situations you may end up facing. There is usually more to job interviews than meets the eye, and knowing what kind of interview you're in makes it easier to cope with. Some of the types of interviews you may encounter include the following.

Screening Interview

Aimed to filter out unqualified candidates, this type of interview requires the candidate to stress facts about his or her skills rather than establish rapport. Interviewers usually prepare an outline of points they want to cover and look for inconsistencies in the jobseeker's resume and qualifications. This interview can be conducted over the telephone.

Stress Interview

Stress interviews test how the jobseeker handles himself or herself in challenging situations. The interviewer may appear difficult to deal with, or may keep you waiting. At some point during the interview, the interviewer may keep silent to attempt to unnerve the jobseeker.

One-On-One Interview

Once it has been established that the jobseeker possesses the required credentials, the company will want to find out if the jobseeker will fit in with the company. They will want to determine how his or her skills complement the rest of the company. This is the time for you to establish rapport with the interviewer and explain how your qualifications can benefit the company.

Committee Interview

You will have to face several members of the company at the same time. These are often the people who will determine if you will be hired. A common practice is for the committee to describe a problem situation for which you need to formulate a solution. The interviewers will be looking for how you apply your knowledge and skills to a real-life situation.

Group Interview

This type of interview requires the jobseeker to interact with a group of people, sometimes with other front-running jobseekers. The group is gathered in an informal, discussion-type setting. The interviewer starts the discussion by introducing a topic, to which the members of the group respond in a non-structured manner. The evaluators will look at how each candidate is able to win others over through reasoning, charisma, and other methods. This interview can help reveal the leadership potential of prospective managers and employees who will be dealing with the public.