Lecture 7

In this lecture we shall cover the following;

 Types of interviews.
 Preparation for interview.
 How to conduct an interview.
 How to become an effective interviewer.

What is an interview?
The word interview comes from Latin and middle French words meaning to “see between” or
“see each other”.

Generally, interview means a private meeting between people where questions are asked and
answered.

So, an interview is formal meeting between two or more people (the interviewer (s) and the
interviewee (s) where questions are asked by the interviewer (s) to obtain information, qualities,
attitudes, wishes etc. from the interviewee (s)

Types of Interviews
—There are several different types of interviews, but they all serve the same purpose of letting
interviewers evaluate the skills, knowledge, experience, education and personality to
determine if the candidate is right for the position.

Types of Interviews

1. Screening and Phone Interviews

2. One-On-One Interviews / Face-To-Face Interviews
3. Multiple Interviews
4. Candidate Group Interviews
5. Panel or Committee Interviews
6. Breakfast or Lunch Interviews
7. Evaluation interviews
8. Persuasive interviews
9. Structured interviews
10. Unstructured interviews
11. Counseling interviews
12. Disciplinary interviews
13. Stress interviews
14. Public interviews

Details about the types of interviews

 1. Screening and Phone Interviews

 These are usually the first steps in the interview process and are normally quick and take place
over the phone.
 This first interview is extremely important as it will decide if you go on to further interviews. These
interviews use direct questions to find out if you would fit the company’s culture and have the
knowledge, experience and qualifications for the position.
 Providing facts about your skills and experience is more important than establishing the rapport.

2. One-On-One Interviews / Face-To-Face Interviews

 This is the interview that most people are familiar with and normally takes place after a phone
screening interview.
 It is normally established that you have the requirements for the position from your CV and
screening interview.
 The interviewer wants to see how you will fit into the company and will ask questions to test your
listed skills and experience.

3. Multiple Interviews

 It is very common that you will go through several levels of interviews, on average most
candidates are interviewed by 3 different individuals and it is not unusual to be interviewed up to
5 times; these can take place on the same day or over several weeks.
 The larger the company the more interviews you can expect and it can be a combination of one-
on-one, group and panel interviews.
 Small and private companies might only take as little as one interview.

4. Candidate Group Interviews

 This is where interviews set two or more applicants against each other as they all will be
interviewed at the same time and most likely by two or more interviewers.
 All applicants will be applying for the same position.
 These interviews test your style, professionalism, leadership skills and the ability to function in a
group under pressure.

5. Panel or Committee Interviews

 This is when several members of the company who have a say whether you will be hired, interview
you at that same time.
 Sometimes this is performed as a time saver method or as a way to see how you deal under more
pressures than a traditional interview.

6. Breakfast or Lunch Interviews

 This is where managers like to interview outside the office setting and get an insight on how you
behave in more relax surroundings. You need to maintain the same standards during these
types of interviews as you would in an office setting.
  The environment might be more casual, but you’re still being closely monitored. Use this type
of interview to build common ground with the interviewer and follow their lead with menu
choices and etiquette, but don’t order selections you won’t eat or drink.
 Do not order the most expensive items and never consume alcohol beverages during these
interviews.
 Be aware of your table manners and never speak with your mouth full. This sounds like common
sense tips, but many don’t follow them.

More details about the types of interviews

7. Teleconferencing / Web Conferencing Interviews

 This is interviewing for a company where their corporate office are a distance away as a way to
save on travel expenses many companies are utilizing the newest process of interviewing using a
webcam online format and it can be done from your home or at one of the company’s remote
locations where they can still see you and read your expressions.

8. Behavioral Interviews

 This is where the interviewer is examining for behavior patterns rather than correct answers.
 They probe into what you have done in the past, and not what you say you will do in the future.
 It’s a test as to how well you have handled certain stressful situations in your past.
 These questions normally start out with “tell me about a time when…” or “give me an example
of how you….” Example Tell me the time when your boss told you to do something you knew
was wrong and how you handled it?
 Give me an example of how you dealt with and completely unreasonable client/customer

9. Stress Interviews

 These types of interviews are performed to see how you react to unexpected situations and
pressures.
 The interviewer can be sarcastic, argumentative and rude with you; he/she might make you wait
a while before they perform the interview.

10. The Second or On-Site Interview

 After your first interview, you may be asked to come back again for a “second date.”
 They liked you enough that you made the first round of cuts, but they would like to know more
about you before making their final decision.
 Second Interviews can last either a half or full-day so it is best to check again and get an
agenda.

11. Task Oriented or Testing Interview

 This is a problem-solving interview where you will be given some exercises to demonstrate your
creative and analytical abilities.
  A company may ask you to take a short test to evaluate your technical knowledge and
skills. Sometimes a presentation to a group is necessary to determine your communication skills.

Preparation for an interview as an Interviewee

If you are an interviewee, you should prepare yourself on the following lines:

1. Know yourself:

 This is probably the most important part of your preparation.

 Try to find out what to achieve through your work-inner fulfillment, fame, position in society,
wealth, security, comfort, travel, power. Before you apply for a job, be sure that you know why
you are applying for it and whether it will suit you.

2. Know the company

 The next thing is to know the company in which you are seeking the job. You should try to find
out as much as you can about its activities, its growth over the years, its future prospects etc.

3. Prepare for the questions

 Anticipate the questions that you will probably be asked and prepare answers to them. Try to be
clear in your mind about the answers you will be giving. Don’t lie, for you will surely be caught
and will spoil the whole show.

INTERVIEWEE ARRIVES FOR THE INTERVIEW

1. Dress appropriately

 You should be suitably dressed for the occasion. Your clothes as well as general appearance
should be neat. Fingernails should be clean, shoes polished and hairstyle appropriate. Lotions,
creams and perfumes should be used sparingly. The accessories should complement the suit or
dress. Your appearance should not be tasteless in any way.

2. Take with you your certificates

 If the interview letter mentions some certificates, testimonials or other documents, do not
forget to take them with you.
 If you think there are some other papers that might be of use to you during the interview, put
them also in your briefcase/your handbag.

3. Arrive in time

 This is of utmost importance. Try to arrive at the place of the interview 10-15 minutes before
the scheduled time. This will give you enough time to relax and prepare yourself for the
interview.
4. Prepare the questions that you would like to ask.

 If the interviewer does not offer you full information about the company and the job, you
must ask questions to gain this information. Prepare the questions that you would like to ask.
These questions might relate to formal or informal training, promotional avenues, fringes/
benefits etc.

HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF DURING THE

INTERVIEW AS AN INTERVIEWEE
 Don’t be nervous or agitated while entering the interview room. See carefully where you are
going and do not trip over the carpet or the doormat. Do not wear a scowl or a stupid smile at
the time of entering.
 Greet the interviewer(s) with a polite morning/afternoon.
 Do not sit down until you have been asked to. Even the posture in which you sit is important.
Don’t sit stiffy. Don’t be careless. Sit in a natural, composed manner.
 When the interviewer starts conversation, pay attention to what he/she says. Do not interrupt.
Respond only at the appropriate time.
 Give very relevant answers to his/her questions. Do not ramble a long for the interviewer will
look bored. Do not be too abrupt or you will appear rude.
 Do not try to make an exhibition of your knowledge. Don’t boast of your capabilities. It is for the
interviewer to find out how capable you are and he will judge you with the help of some
penetrating questions which you must answer frankly.
 If there is something you do not know, admit it straightaway. It is useless to pretend knowledge
when you are actually ignorant. Many candidates spoil their interview by telling a lie and landing
themselves in an embarrassing situation.

More about how to conduct your self during the

interview
 If you are being interviewed by someone who does not possess as many college degrees as you
have, do not put on airs. Give the interviewer your full co-operation and respect. In addition to
knowing your qualifications, the interviewer must also be preparing some kind of reaction report.
And if you try to look superior, the reaction report is bound to be unfavorable.
 You are expected to have your individual views and you need not to agree with everything the
interviewer says. But you also need not to annoy or offend him unnecessarily. You must remain
calm and friendly throughout the interview. If you lose temper, the interview is likely to be cut
short abruptly.
 Be positive in your attitude. Express your enthusiasm for the job and the company. If you give the
impression that you are not really interested, you will discover that your employer is also not
really interested.
 Don’t keep shifting your seat. Do not bite or chew your finger nails. Do not smoothen your hair.
Do not play with the paper weight or the pin cushion on the table. Do not start adjusting the knot
of your necktie. All these are signs of nervousness. And nervousness is your biggest enemy during
the interview.
  —When you are asked questions about your previous job, be frank but avoid criticism of your
former employer or colleagues. You may bear a grudge against your former employer, but keep
it to yourself.
 —An interview is not the proper place to express your private complaints. Mention only positive,
pleasant and constructive aspects of your earlier employment.
 If your interviewer has not talked about your job, do not be afraid to ask questions yourself. Full
knowledge of the job will help you to decide whether you ought to accept it or not.
 When the interview is over, do not forget to thank the interviewer. You may even tactfully ask
when the result will be made known to you.
 If the job is offered to you, you may accept it immediately or ask for time to think over it,
depending upon your circumstances.

PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW AS AN

INTERVIEWER
1. You should have a clear picture of the company profile and of the nature of the job for which
the interview is being held.

2. You should know the type of personality, character or nature required for the job.

3. You should send the interview letters well in advance so that the candidates are not
inconvenienced and they also get sufficient time to prepare themselves for the interview. Clearly
mention in the letter, the documents you want the candidates to bring with them.

4. Make proper sitting arrangement for the candidates in the waiting room. The room should be
quite with provision for newspapers and magazines so that the candidates feel relaxed.

5. The interview itself should be conducted in a quiet room where there is little or no
interruption. The telephone bell should not be allowed to disturb, nor should the personal assistant
be allowed to intrude.

6. If the candidate is to be interviewed by a committee, each member of the committee should

be in possession of a copy of the bio-data of the candidate so that there is neither any confusion
nor wastage of time.

7. You should decide before hand as to which member of the committee is going to initiate the
interview. This will save the candidate from being bombarded with questions. According to the
area of specialization of the various members of the committee, you should divide among
yourselves the areas in which you are going to ask questions.

HOW TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW AS AN

INTERVIEWER
1. Welcoming the candidate:
  Welcome the candidate exactly in the same way you would welcome a friend who visits you at
your office or home. Give him a warm smile and talk to him in a friendly tone of voice. Hold with
him some small talk in an area which you think is familiar to him.

 Very few candidates are perfectly free from nervousness before they enter the interview
room and if you start interviewing them before they have overcome their nervousness,
you cannot expect them to reveal the best in them.

2. Contents of the interview:

 —After you have made the candidate feel at ease, you should start talking to him on the subject
you want to know about.
The things you would particularly like to know include, the candidate’s technical qualifications
(ability to do the job) drive and aspirations (willingness to do the job),social effectiveness and
emotional balance (relations with others and self), character (trust worthiness, honest…) and
other facts related to his physical vigor and energy, spouses attitude towards the job, financial
stability, willingness to travel, willingness to make permanent moves.

3. Parting :

 — Parting is as important as welcoming. You should thank the candidate for having come for the
interview and tell him that he will soon be informed of the outcome. —It is desirable to give him
a specific date by which he will be informed, and keep this date. Or you may politely tell him
that you will be informing him by a certain date if he is selected, so that if he does not hear from
you by that date, he presumes that he has not been selected.

HOW TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE

INTERVIEWER
 Let the applicant do most of the talking. If you talk more than 50 percent of time, you are
interviewing yourself not conducting an interview.
 Use brief verbal responses that will keep the applicant talking use questions such as “tell me
more”, “That’s interesting”, “what happened then?”
 Give your entire attention to the interviewee and respond by encouraging facial expressions,
movement and expression of the eyes, and nods of the head.
 Allow pauses in the conversation if you think the applicant will reveal important information.
But avoid lengthy pauses or a pause when the applicant has definitely finished a topic.
 Try to understand the applicant, who in turn may volunteer really useful information.
 Make self-expression easy for the applicant.
 Respect the feelings of the other person even though you consider the person wrong.
 At all times what the applicant says;
 Never frown, show surprise or show disapproval.
 Avoid the impulse to cut the applicant off or change the subject abruptly.
 Never argue.
 Sit on the opposite side of the desk of the applicant and use informal, plain language.