Interview Types
Not all interviews are created equal. This a variety of techniques to get the right employee hired. Employers will decide which type of interview to use to save time and money, challenge the candidate sufficiently, or to create a higher level of validity in their testing.
Panel Interviews - In this type of interview, you are questioned by more than one interviewer. Generally, there are 2 to 4, but I've seen more. The panel has a set list of questions that should be asked in the same manner to each candidate. The benefit of this style of interview is that there are multiple perspectives to aid in the selection of the best candidate. Usually, a scoring system is used to help select the successful candidate.
One-on-one Interview - This is a one person interview, perhaps a supervisor, manager, or human resources employee. Usually, the candidate is interviewed by the hiring authority after the initial interview.
Group Interviews - Designed to see how well you interact with others, group interviews are often more complicated than they seem. Dominance is usually not a factor you want to portray, even for a leadership role. Gather information, facilitate solutions, and don't be a block to progress within the group.
Telephone / Teleconferencing Interview - These types of interviews are designed to screen candidates if there is a large number of them or if there is a wide geographical range. This is a very difficult interview, because visual cues are not available or, in the case of teleconferencing, difficult to decipher. During a either of these interviews, act as though you are interviewing in person. Don't get too comfortable, be clear in your speech, and practice good listening skills. Be prepared with a good summation of your skills for the end of the call.
No matter which type of interview you have, follow up with a thank you note.
