What is an interview?
An interview is a structured conversation in which questions are asked and answered to obtain specific information, assess suitability, or achieve a particular purpose. Interviews are commonly used in employment, research, education, journalism, and other professional settings.
The two main participants in an interview are the interviewer and the interviewee. The interviewer asks questions to obtain information, while the interviewee provides answers and information in response.
Although an interview can involve two people, it may also involve several interviewers, such as a panel interview. Interviews are usually focused on a specific topic, purpose, or event and are conducted at an agreed time and place.
Types of Interviews
Interviews can be classified according to their purpose. Two broad types are informational interviews and job interviews.
1. Informational Interview
An informational interview is conducted primarily to obtain information from the interviewee. It can be used to learn about a particular career, profession, organization, industry, or area of expertise.
For example, a student may interview an experienced professional to learn about the requirements, responsibilities, and challenges of a particular career.
2. Job Interview
A job interview is a structured conversation between an employer or employer's representative and a job applicant. Its purpose is to gather information about the applicant and assess whether the applicant's qualifications, skills, experience, and interests match the requirements of the position.
A job interview also gives the applicant an opportunity to learn more about the organization, the position, and the expectations associated with the job.
Who Prepares a Job Interview?
The employer or hiring organization is generally responsible for organizing and preparing a job interview. However, successful preparation involves both the interviewer and the interviewee.
The employer needs to determine what information should be obtained from candidates and how candidates will be assessed. The applicant, on the other hand, should research the organization, understand the job requirements, prepare relevant documents, and practice answering questions.
Important Requirements for Preparing a Job Interview
An interviewer should prepare several important aspects before conducting a job interview, including:
- Date and time: Determine when the interview will take place.
- Venue: Choose and prepare the location for the interview.
- Participants: Identify the interviewers or panel members who will participate.
- Interview facilities: Prepare necessary materials and facilities such as chairs, tables, documents, writing materials, and appropriate technology.
- Interview procedure: Determine how the interview will be conducted and the order of activities.
- Interview questions: Prepare relevant questions that will help assess the applicant's suitability for the position.
Types of Job Interviews
Job interviews can be broadly divided into pre-job interviews and in-job interviews.
1. Pre-Job Interviews
A pre-job interview is an interview conducted before an applicant is selected and recruited for a position.
The main purpose is to obtain information that helps the employer and applicant determine whether the applicant is suitable for the position. The applicant may also use the interview to learn more about the prospective employer and the organization.
Types of Pre-Job Interviews
Some common forms of pre-job interviews include screening interviews, mock interviews, and selection interviews.
A. Screening Interview
A screening interview is usually an initial interview conducted to determine whether a job applicant meets the basic requirements for a position.
It may take place face-to-face, by telephone, or through an online platform. The purpose is often to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and should proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Screening interviews can therefore help employers create a shortlist of qualified candidates.
B. Mock Interview
A mock interview is a practice interview designed to simulate an actual job interview.
It allows a job seeker to practice answering questions, presenting themselves professionally, communicating effectively, and managing interview situations before the real interview.
For example, a teacher applying for a teaching position may practice delivering a lesson as part of the preparation process.
Mock interviews can help applicants identify weaknesses, improve their communication skills, and become more comfortable with the interview process.
C. Selection Interview
A selection interview is conducted to help an employer choose the most suitable candidate from a group of applicants.
The interviewer may ask questions about the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, achievements, and ability to perform the duties associated with the position.
Depending on the organization and position, the interview may involve one interviewer or a panel of interviewers.
Stages of a Job Interview
A job interview can generally be considered in three main stages:
- Before the interview
- During the interview
- After the interview
Each stage requires appropriate preparation.
Stage 1: Before the Interview
Preparation before the interview is extremely important. Unless the interview is arranged at very short notice, applicants usually have some time to prepare.
Here are important things to do before a job interview.
1. Know When the Interview Will Take Place
Make sure you know the exact date and time of the interview. Confirm the time carefully and plan your journey in advance.
Avoid leaving important preparations until the last minute.
2. Know Where the Interview Will Take Place
Find out the exact interview location. If the organization has several buildings, departments, or offices, determine the specific building, room, or reception area where you should report.
3. Plan How You Will Get There
Choose your means of transportation in advance. Consider traffic, distance, weather, and possible delays.
Planning your journey early can reduce unnecessary stress on the interview day.
4. Arrive on Time
Arriving early gives you time to settle down and prepare yourself before the interview begins.
As a general practice, arriving around 15–30 minutes early can give you enough time to deal with unexpected delays without arriving excessively early.
5. Research the Organization and Job
Research the organization before attending the interview. Try to understand:
- What the organization does
- Its products or services
- Its main activities
- Its organizational structure
- Its workplace culture
- The position you applied for
- The main responsibilities of the position
- The skills and qualifications required
Understanding the organization and the job can help you answer interview questions more confidently and ask relevant questions.
6. Plan Your Appearance
Choose appropriate, clean, and professional clothing for the interview. Your appearance should be suitable for the organization and the position you are applying for.
Good grooming and appropriate clothing can contribute to a professional first impression.
7. Improve Your Interview Skills
Learn how to communicate effectively during an interview. Practice answering common interview questions and pay attention to your communication, posture, eye contact, tone of voice, and body language.
8. Prepare Your Documents
Prepare the documents you may need, such as:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Academic certificates or copies
- Professional certificates
- Identification documents
- Driving license, where relevant
- Portfolio or examples of previous work
- Job application documents
The specific documents required will depend on the employer and position.
9. Carry Necessary Materials
Consider carrying a notebook and pen. You can use them to write down important information during the interview.
You may also prepare a short list of questions that you would like to ask the interviewer.
10. Rehearse the Interview
Practice before the actual interview. You can ask a friend, family member, teacher, or colleague to act as the interviewer.
Practice:
- Entering and leaving the interview room
- Greeting the interviewers
- Introducing yourself
- Answering common interview questions
- Explaining your experience and qualifications
- Asking questions
- Maintaining appropriate body language
- Closing the interview professionally
If possible, record a practice interview using your phone. Watching the recording can help you identify areas that need improvement.
The Day Before the Interview
The day before the interview is a good time to make sure everything is ready.
Things to do the day before your interview:
- Get enough rest.
- Go to bed at a reasonable time.
- Prepare your clothes.
- Organize your documents.
- Check your transportation arrangements.
- Confirm the interview location and time.
- Review your interview preparation checklist.
- Avoid anything that could unnecessarily interfere with your sleep or concentration.
Being prepared can help you approach the interview with greater confidence.
Stage 2: During the Interview
The second stage is the actual interview. During this stage, the applicant should demonstrate how their qualifications, skills, experience, and abilities relate to the position.
1. Greet the Interviewers Professionally
When you enter the interview room, greet the interviewers politely and professionally.
Use an appropriate formal greeting based on the time of day and the situation.
2. Listen Carefully
Pay close attention to the instructions given by the interviewer. If you are told where to sit or what to do, follow the instructions respectfully.
3. Answer Questions Clearly
Answer questions directly and keep your responses relevant to the question being asked.
Avoid giving unnecessarily long answers that move away from the main topic.
4. Ask for Clarification When Necessary
If you do not understand a question, it is acceptable to politely ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify it.
For example:
"Could you please repeat the question?"
or
"Could you please clarify what you mean by that?"
5. Think Before You Answer
Take a moment to organize your thoughts before answering difficult questions. Try to give natural and honest answers rather than attempting to memorize every response word for word.
6. Be Honest
If you do not know the answer to a question, avoid inventing information.
You can acknowledge that you do not know the answer and, where appropriate, explain how you would find the information or approach the problem.
7. Use Positive Body Language
Pay attention to your body language during the interview.
Maintain appropriate eye contact, sit comfortably with good posture, listen attentively, and use a natural facial expression. Your tone of voice should be polite and confident.
Avoid staring, excessive movement, or distracting gestures.
8. Handle Difficult Questions Carefully
Some interview questions may be challenging or require careful thought.
Take time to understand what the interviewer is asking and answer based on your actual experience, knowledge, and the requirements of the position.
9. Highlight Your Strengths
When asked about yourself, focus on qualifications, skills, experience, achievements, and other strengths that are relevant to the position.
Give specific examples when possible.
10. Ask Relevant Questions
At the end of many interviews, the interviewer gives the applicant an opportunity to ask questions.
Prepare a few relevant questions in advance. For example, you might ask about the responsibilities of the position, the team you would work with, or the next stage of the recruitment process.
Stage 3: After the Interview
The final stage takes place after the interview has ended. Both the interviewer and interviewee should leave the interaction professionally.
What the Interviewer Should Do
After the interview, the interviewer should:
- Thank the applicant for attending.
- Explain whether there will be additional stages in the recruitment process, where applicable.
- Explain when and how the applicant can expect feedback, if this information is available.
- Provide any other relevant instructions.
What the Interviewee Should Do
After the interview, the applicant should:
- Thank the interviewer for the opportunity.
- Leave the interview professionally.
- Take note of any information about the next stage.
- Follow any instructions provided by the employer.
- Reflect on the interview and identify areas for improvement.
Interview Follow-Up
Following up after an interview can be appropriate, particularly when the employer has provided a specific timeline or invited candidates to contact them.
A short and professional thank-you message can express appreciation for the interview and reaffirm your interest in the position.
However, avoid excessive calls or messages. If the employer provides a specific date for feedback, it is generally better to follow the stated process and timeline.
2. In-Job Interviews
An in-job interview, sometimes called a during-job interview, is conducted after an employee has already joined an organization.
The purpose can vary depending on the situation. An organization may conduct an in-job interview to understand employee experiences, review work-related issues, discuss performance, examine changes in responsibilities, or gather information before making organizational decisions.
Two examples include stay interviews and exit interviews.
Stay Interview
A stay interview is a conversation between an employer or manager and an employee designed to understand the employee's experience at the organization, including factors that encourage the employee to remain with the organization and areas that may need improvement.
The information obtained can help an organization identify workplace issues and improve employee engagement and retention.
Exit Interview
An exit interview is conducted when an employee is leaving an organization.
Its purpose may include understanding why the employee is leaving, collecting feedback about the workplace, reviewing the employee's experience, and identifying areas where the organization could improve.
An exit interview does not necessarily mean that the employer is terminating the employee. It can also take place when an employee voluntarily resigns or when employment ends for another reason.
Reasons for Conducting In-Job Interviews
An organization may conduct an in-job interview for several reasons, including:
- Understanding employee commitment and workplace experiences
- Identifying organizational problems
- Investigating workplace concerns
- Reviewing or changing employment arrangements
- Discussing changes in responsibilities
- Understanding employee satisfaction
- Preparing for an employee's departure
- Improving organizational efficiency
Conclusion
An interview is an important communication process used to obtain information, assess suitability, and make informed decisions. In the employment context, understanding how job interviews work can help both employers and job seekers prepare effectively.
For job seekers, good preparation involves researching the organization, understanding the position, preparing documents, practicing interview questions, arriving on time, communicating clearly, and maintaining professional behavior throughout the interview.
Whether you are preparing for your first job interview, a screening interview, a selection interview, or an interview during your employment, proper preparation can help you communicate your qualifications and experience more effectively.