Two Kinds of Format Interview
Structured Interview
Fixed format interview in which all questions are prepared beforehand and are put in the same order to each interviewee. Although this style lacks the free flow of a friendly conversation (as in an unstructured Interview) it provides the precision and reliability required in certain situations. Also called directive interview.
Unstructured Interview
Interview without any set format but in which the interviewer may have some key questions formulated in advance. Unstructured interviews allow questions based on the interviewee's responses and proceeds like a friendly, non-threatening conversation. However, because each interviewee is asked a different series of questions, this style lacks the reliability and precision of a structured interview, also called non-directive interview.
Types of Interview
Informational Interviews
An informational Interview is an interview that YOU initiate -- you ask the questions. These are conversations with people who are currently working in your field of interest. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a job. Your GOAL - to obtain INFORMATION!
These talks give you a chance to learn more about a specific career without making a long-term commitment of your time and money. You can find out about the responsibilities, rewards, and problem areas inherent in a specific career by asking questions of people already established in that field.
One to One Job Interview
The most common interview is the one to one. The interviewer with the interviewee. The One to One Job Interview is a test/conversation and both parties will end the conversation with an opinion. The interviewer: if the candidate is right for the job and the interviewee: if the organization is right for him.
The interview starts when the interviewee meets the interviewer. We read a lot in body language signs & other non-verbal communication. The clothes you wear are also important.
The Group Interview
During a group interview, I'm specifically referring to an interview where you are interviewed as part of a group of job candidates.
So instead of the typical scenario where the company interviews one person at a time, this is an interview where you and the other candidates being considered for the job are interviewed in the same room at the same time.
Interactive Interview includes:
Professional Portfolio
Imagine trying to condense a summary of your abilities, educational background, and professional experience onto a typed page. Imagine a prospective employer using it to compare your abilities with those of other job seekers. You know that this type of conventional resume inadequately represents your potential as a candidate for the job. In today's competitive job market, students seeking employment in the design and often teaching fields need more than a paper or electronic resume.
A digital/multimedia professional portfolio exhibits an individuals professional skill, growth, and achievement more effectively than an old-fashioned resume.
Job Shadow/Interview
Students will learn more about careers in which they are interested through a variety of activities, including a job shadow or a career related informational interview.
- Students are expected to show a clear relationship between their career pathway/career interest and the person that they will shadow or interview.
- Whether the student chooses to do an on-site visit or an interview, s/he will write a reflection paper following the activity. (questions follow)
- The amount of time to conduct a Job Shadow will vary according to the nature of the business; it will not be necessary to document the time on-site or the time to conduct an interview.
- A signature and date from the business representative are required.
Case Interview
Case interviewing is very common in interviews with consulting companies.
There are two general types of cases: traditional and wild card. Case interviewing requires you to listen carefully to a description of a situation and rapidly put together a logical and systematic way of analyzing and solving the problem.
First, you will receive a description of a problem with varying amounts of related information. You will have a certain amount of time to develop a solution and presentation; and then a certain amount of time to present. The key to preparing for case interviews is to practice with anyone you can. Practice with schoolmates as well as alumni in the management-consulting field.
The Stress Interview
The stress interview is a tactic used by some companies or individual hiring managers to gauge how you will handle stress.
A stress interview could occur in a number of different ways:
1. The interviewer(s) could fire off questions very quickly without giving you much time to think about your answers.
2. You might be interviewed by a group of people at the same time and maybe they take turns grilling you.
3. You might be interviewed by different people who take turns coming into the interview room without giving you a break or much time to rest.
4. Maybe the interviewer asks off-the-wall questions (ie. situational questions, riddles) or maybe they cut you off before you can finish your answers.
5. Maybe they get you to ask the questions. This happened to me once where the interviewer flew into the room, plonked themselves down on the seat and said "OK, what do you want to know?"
Alternative Interview Types
Lunch Interview
A lunch interview is simply an interview held over lunch. It takes a different approach and different preparation. The interview will probably be slightly longer than normal.
Lunch Interview Etiquette:
Do not worry too much about lunch interview etiquette, employers are more interested in your ability to do the job rather than your table manners although a certain level of education and manners have to be shown. If you follow the normal table manners you will be fine unless VIP dining is part of the job.
Do not:
- Sneeze on food.
- Dunk bread in soup.
- Be rude to the waiter.
- Get drunk.
- Place elbows on table.
- Speak with your mouth full of food.
- Chew with your mouth open.
