10 Interview Types You Need To Be Prepared For!

Most of you, have already done a job interview with an employer with the 1-to-1 traditional interview, phone interview, or video-call interview, right?

Let's discover all the Job Interview types and learn the most important things we need to know for each kind of interview! The last 3 types will shock you!

Before presenting you the different kinds of interview, keep the below notes as super important for every kind of interview:

• Get prepared! Prepare to answer any kind of question regarding your CV/Resume, your personal goals and aspirations, your behavior in different situations, information about the employer, your role, and the industry.
• Get prepared for tests too! Some employers require tests like Personality tests, Cognitive tests like reasoning, memory, perceptual speed and accuracy, arithmetic and reading comprehension, Soft Skills, language proficiency tests, computer tests like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Emotional Intelligence tests, etc.

1. In-Person 1-to-1 Interview

This is the most known interview. Let's point out some tips for this kind of interview:

•  Arrive 10-15 minutes earlier
• Be clean with proper clothes (avoid jewelry, heavy makeup, and perfume)
• Deactivate your smartphone (or activate the flight mode)
• Bring with you copies of your Resume/CV, Cover letter, Reference letters, and any required education certifications in case you need to show them to the employer
• Business cards (if you have any) and a notebook in case you need to keep notes (I suggest you write there the questions you want to ask the employer)
• Be kind to everybody, the interview starts from the moment you enter the building (don't smoke before the interview, keep your breath clean)
• Smile and confident handshake (avoid handshake during pandemic safety measures)
• Maintain eye contact during the whole interview (but don't be creepy!)
• Body language 55-38-7 rule (Google it!): Mirror/Match the communication

2. Phone Interview

This type of interview is mostly for the 1st screening of candidates to check if they are truly interested in the role, or if they agree to the main employee compensation and other standard requirements. It can also happen if the employer is located in another city or country. Here are the most important tips:

• Have copies of your CV/Resume, Cover letter, Job Vacancy description, notes in front of you
• If you have access to the internet you can also look at the website/social media of the employer or the LinkedIn profile of the interviewer at the same time
• Find a very quiet place, a stable phone connection, and high-quality earphones (Super Important!!)
• Talk in a way the interviewer can understand you, not very fast or loud
• Smile and remember, your voice is your strongest skill

3. Video Call Interview

Zoom, Skype, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, or other video call interviews are also very common, especially if you apply for a role in another city or country, but even for the same city many times as both sides save time and the whole process is more flexible. Video calls are also the most common job interview type during a pandemic.

Similar tips with the phone interview here, also keep in mind the following advice:

• Avoid having an open window behind you, make sure the lights are okay and your face is clear and visible
• Have a high-quality camera and test the device with a friend
• Have a stable internet connection
• Proper clothes and background (a plain wall is the safest option)
• Eye contact with the camera and smile

4. Panel Interview

This type of interview is also common as the interviewers could be from several departments and seniorities, in this case, you avoid having many interviews and the employer saves time. You can meet up to 5 interviewers at the same time. Here is an example.

• Maintain eye contact with all the interviewers, especially with the one that makes you the question

5. Group Interview

There are times that you will probably face a group interview, mostly in junior roles. The employer also evaluates your body language and active listening skills:

• Be kind and patient
• Speak only when you have something to say
• Let the others talk, share your speaking time with the group

6. The Working Interview

In some fields like sales, writing, IT roles, graphic design, and others, the employer may test you in a real work task to evaluate your skills and abilities. Get ready for that, especially if you belong to the above or similar roles. Some companies, mainly in North America, even offer VR - Virtual Reality & AR - Augmented Reality tests and tasks!

7. Career Days - Job Festivals Interviews

In this case, you can attend a Job Festival or Career Days event for job interviews. You will mostly find this kind of event in the biggest cities in your country or virtually, organized by Job Portals, Universities, and other companies and organizations. You can have an "informational" interview with many employers on the same day. These interviews usually last 10-15 minutes and it is the 1st screening to evaluate and call you for a normal interview or you can just go and ask for information. Here are some tips:

• Check the website of the event for the participating companies and make a list of the companies that you are interested in, prepare questions for them
• Search on their website or the page of the event about the open job positions or departments that you could be a good fit, even in the future, learn what they need from a candidate
• Look at the agenda if they have any speakers that you are interested to meet and make an elevator pitch (present yourself in 1-2 minutes)
• Bring copies of your Resume/CV (sometimes they require to upload it at the website of the event)
• Bring with you Business Cards with your contact details if you have any, it is a great opportunity for networking! or connect with them on LinkedIn!
• Make a plan, time management is essential to get the most out of the event

8. AI - Artificial Intelligence Video Recorded Interview

This is a new kind of interview, in this case, the employer saves time in the hiring process. You can see on the picture the evaluation points, there is a variety of software that employers use. You can find more information about AI - Artificial Intelligence here.

• You will usually have to answer a number of questions in a specific timeframe
• Facial expressions, keywords, the tone of voice, even mindset - way of thinking are essential to pass this step, be confident and speak about the role you applied with passion

9. AI - Artificial Intelligence Unbiased Recruiter Robot

This is a very very new kind of interview, totally revolutionary, Social Robotics startup Furhat Robotics and TNG in Sweden produced an AI Robot that makes interviews and evaluate the candidates just for their skills and abilities, it doesn't have any bias for appearance, age, religion, skin color, etc.

The Robot is called Tengai, click here to find more about the new innovative recruiting tool.

This is very new so if there is any chance to have an interview with this robot or similar robots in the future my advice is:

• Be yourself, speak with confidence & passion about your goals and career aspirations, focused on the role you want to get hired

10. Alternative Interview

Well, some employers are super creative with the job interview process and they do it in their own way! You can't get prepared for this kind of interview so just be yourself!

You can watch a brilliant example here.

One more example is this: The interview can take place in a restaurant or cafe-bar, the interviewer can ask "on purpose" from the waiter to deliver you a totally different drink or food than the one you ordered, to test your reactions and behavior!

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These are all the Job Interview types I know and I offer you the most important tips, I would really like to have a brainstorming in the comments below so feel free to say your opinion, any extra tips, any other kinds of job interview you know or any other valuable comment and your opinion about this article. I would really appreciate it!!

Good luck with your job search and ace any kind of job interview!!

Author:

Markos Korvesis - NLP Career Coach - CV & LinkedIn Writer

FOLLOW me on LinkedIn for more Career tips!

If you need training about Job Interview Preparation or a Job Interview Simulation for feedback, feel free to reach me on LinkedIn with a personalized invite, on Skype markos.korvesis, WhatsApp/Viber//Telegram/Phone 00306977761644 or email [email protected]

I also offer group workshops and conference presentations all over Europe for CV, Cover Letter, LinkedIn, Job Interview, and Job Search Strategies.

Greek users can also find more information on the website of LeadCompass

The English version of the website is here!

Here are some articles with tips about LinkedIn:

• 3 STEPS to Customize your LinkedIn URL!
• All-Star LinkedIn Tip for Job Seekers!!
• 1 Thing You Should Immediately Remove From Your CV and LinkedIn!!
• 400+ Symbols to Boost Your LinkedIn!

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