10 Popular Types of Interviews Job Seekers Should Prepare for

With organizations adopting a skill-based hiring approach, interview processes are becoming more and more complex. Consequently, it is becoming difficult for professionals to adapt to changing trends and secure their dream jobs. Therefore, it is important to become familiar with different interview types. This blog explains the common types of interviews and provides actionable interview preparation tips for job seekers.

What are the 10 Different Types of Interviews Job Seekers May Encounter?

1. Phone Interview 

Among the types of interviews candidates face, the ones over the phone are usually the first stage of the hiring process. Any team member or HR of the prospective employer calls job seekers to understand their professional experience, skills, and job expectations and also discuss the role briefly. This type of interview sets the foundation for subsequent screening rounds.

2. In-Person Interview 

An in-person interview is the most traditional one where the candidate physically meets the recruiter in the office or any other formal setup. 

3. Video Interviews 

These have become one of the most common types of interviews after the pandemic. Video interviews occur over a video conferencing tool such as Zoom, Google Meet, or a similar platform. Video interviews are similar to traditional interviews, except they take place online.

4. AI Interviews 

AI interviews also top the list of the most popular types of interviews. In these interviews, an AI bot will conduct the interview by asking the candidate relevant questions. Companies usually conduct AI interviews in the first round to filter appropriate candidates from a large pool of applications.

5. Group Interviews

Organizations usually conduct group discussions or interviews for fresher hiring, especially during campus placement rounds. They give a topic for discussion to the group, and candidates have to present their views.

6. Task-Oriented Interview 

Skill-based hiring is gradually becoming the norm as organizations are focusing on bridging the skill gap. Therefore, task-oriented interviews are becoming increasingly common. The interviewers ask job seekers specific questions about the hiring task they have performed to assess the candidate’s skill set and industry know-how.

7. Situational Interview

These are also important types of interviews to assess a candidate’s skills, especially critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. In these interviews, the interviewer provides a case study or problem statement to the candidate and asks them to solve it.

8. Informal Interview 

These are also regular interviews but are less structured. Instead of grilling the candidate, the interviewer uses a friendly and informal approach to learn more about the candidate. Informal interviews can either be done online or in person.

9. Panel Interview 

A panel interview can be a traditional or video interview where a panel of interviewers is present to assess the candidate. Such interviews are usually conducted for leadership roles.

10. Career Fair Interview 

These are quick interviews that take place at career fairs organized by universities or educational institutions. Candidates get approximately 15 to 20 minutes to engage with the interviewer and demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

ALSO READ: The Top 3 Interview Questions You Need to Know to Secure Your Dream Job

How Can Job Seekers Prepare for Each of These Interviews?

Here are some useful job interview tips for different types of interviews.

1. Phone Interview 

Phone interviews are often quick to get an overview of a candidate’s experience and skills. Note brief pointers and keep your resume handy for reference during a phone interview. Also, choose a silent location to avoid disturbance.

2. In-Person Interview 

For in-person interviews, prepare a list of potential questions based on the resume, skills, and experience, and practice answering them beforehand. Also, be sure to research company projects and clients to give strategic answers.

3. Video Interviews 

Similar to in-person interviews, video interviews also require company research and answer practice. Showcase your portfolio to the interviewer by sharing your screen. However, for this, you should also prepare another set of questions specific to your past work.

4. AI Interviews 

For AI interviews, make yourself familiar with the platform/software before the interview to avoid any technical glitches. Also, understand the instructions carefully and avoid opening any other tabs on the device. Otherwise, the software can notify the organization of malpractice, leading to the rejection of your application.

5. Group Interviews

Create a balance between being authoritative and dominating for these types of interviews. Also, mention your experiences or examples related to the discussion topic. Additionally, practice a quick one-minute introduction for group interviews.

ALSO READ: Top 5 Steps to Help You Tap Into the Hidden Job Market

6. Task-Oriented Interview 

Such types of interviews focus on understanding your approach or methodology to solve a task. Therefore, job interview tips for task-oriented rounds involve going through the resources you referred to, writing down your understanding of the task, and task output. Try to explain the task performance by specifying your skill set and experiences.

7. Situational Interview

One of the best interview preparation tips to answer situational interviews is to follow the STAR method:

• Situation: Understand, analyze, and explain the case study or the problem statement 
• Task: Define the task to be completed
• Action: Describe specific actions to take to solve the problem 
• Results: Explain the tangible results that the actions will generate

8. Informal Interview 

For informal interviews, just be your authentic self. Write down your experiences and anecdotes to refer to. Also, the background of the interviewer should be researched to find common interests.

9. Panel Interview 

Preparing for panel interviews involves understanding the background of each member and writing down questions with different perspectives to engage with all the members.

10. Career Fair Interview 

These job interviews require researching different companies and attending the job fair. Create customized resumes for different organizations based on your shortlisted companies. Moreover, prepare an elevator pitch to quickly convey skills and experience to potential recruiters.

What are the Key Things to Keep in Mind Before Each Interview?

Irrespective of the mode or type, here are a few things to keep in mind before each interview:

• Have a thorough understanding of your resume to answer all questions correctly 
• Practice a set of potential interview questions for each round 
• List down relevant questions to ask the interviewer about the role or organization 
• Keep important items close, such as printed resume, reference notes, or a diary to note important points

ALSO READ: The Most Important Job Interview Questions to Land Your Dream Job

How Can Job Seekers Excel in All These Interviews?

There is no strict approach for job seekers to excel at interviews. It depends upon the skills and experience of the candidate and how well they are able to demonstrate their expertise.

However, job seekers should be kind, empathetic, and truthful during all types of interviews. They should also focus on building a good rapport with the interviewee and show enthusiasm for joining the role/organization.

Here are some effective interview strategies to excel in all types of interviews:

• Demonstrate soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking by stating past experiences
• Find common points for discussion with the interviewer by doing research prior to the interview
• Introspect after every interview and find improvement areas

How Important is it to Research the Company and Industry Before an Interview?

Researching about the company is one of the top interview strategies. Here is how it helps.

1. Provide Custom Answers 

For example, if the interviewer asks you about core strengths or values during an interview, researching the company’s culture will help you understand their values and align your strengths with such values.

2. Convey Enthusiasm

By researching the company and industry, you can discuss the latest projects or trends with the interviewer to keep the conversation more engaging and demonstrate your eagerness to join the role.

3. Ask Relevant Questions

Take advantage of this when you are asked if you have questions for the interviewer. Ask relevant questions about the company and the industry. It demonstrates your skills and expertise.

4. Know Payment Benchmarks 

Understanding company and industry details help you learn the average salary for a particular role. Therefore, you can negotiate better to get a well-paying job.

ALSO READ: The Most Important J9b Interview Questions to Land Your Dream Job 

You can learn more about the company on its website or LinkedIn page. Check Google reviews, Glassdoor reviews, and customer reviews and connect with existing or previous employees to gain more insights. For industry-specific research, read about the latest trends, technologies, or challenges.

Mass layoffs, economic uncertainties, and skills gaps are some major reasons for increasing unemployment. Moreover, many professionals lack relevant skills for the evolving job landscape. Therefore, one of the best solutions to gain relevant skills and ace all types of interviews is to continuously upskill and reskill. Emeritus’ online project management courses offer advanced knowledge and skills related to your career field. Explore these courses now to advance your career.

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