Types of Interviews

The types of interviews are:
1.Informal Interview.
2.Formal Interview.
3.Planned Interview.
4.Patterned Interview.
5.Non-directive Interview.
6.Depth Interview.
7.Stress Interview
8.Group Interview.
9.Panel Interview.

Preliminary Interview
·Informal interview
·Unstructured interview.

Core Interview
·Background information interview.
·Job and probing interview.
·Stress Interview.
·The group discussion interview.
·Formal and structured interview
·Panel interview
·Depth interview.

Decision-Making Interview:

Preliminary Interview:
Informal Interview:
This is the interview which can be conducted at any place by any person to secure the basic and non-job related information.
Unstructured Interview:
In this interview the candidate is given the freedom to tell about himself by revealing his knowledge on various items / areas, his background, expectations, interest etc. Similarly, the interviewer also provides information on various items required by the candidate

Core Interview
Background Information Interview:
This interview is intended to collect the information which is not available in the application blank and to check that information provided in the application blank regarding education, place of domicile, family, health, interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, extracurricular activities of the applicant.
Job and Probing Interview This interview aims at testing the candidate’s job knowledge about duties, activities, methods of doing the job, critical/ problematic areas, methods of handling those areas etc.

Stress Interview:
This interview aims at testing the candidate’s job behavior and level of withstanding during the period of stress and strain. Interviewer tests the candidate by putting him under stress and strain by interrupting the applicant from answering, criticizing his opinions, asking questions pertaining to unrelated areas, keeping silent for unduly long period after he has finished speaking etc. Stress during the middle portion of the interview gives effective results. Stress interview must be handled with at most care and skill. This type of interview is often invalid. As the interviewee’s need for a job, his previous experience in such type of interviews may inhibit his actual behavior under such situations.

Group Discussion Interview:
There are two methods of conducting group discussion interview, namely, group interview method and discussion interview method. All candidates are brought into one room i.e. interview room and are interviewed one by one under group interview This method helps a busy executive to save valuable time and gives a fair account of the objectivity of the interview to the candidates.
Under the discussion interview method, one topic is given for discussion to the candidates who assemble in one room and they are asked to discuss the topic in detail. This type of interview helps the interviewer in appraising, certain skills of the candidates like initiative, inter-personal skills, dynamism, presentation, leading comprehension, collaboration etc.
Interviewers are at ease in this category of interview because of its informality and flexibility. But it may fail to cover some significant portions of the candidates’ background and skills.

Formal and Structured Interview:
In this type of interview, all the formalities, procedure like fixing the value , time, panel of interviewers, opening and closing, intimati0ng the candidates officially etc. are strictly followed in arranging and conducting the interview. The course of the interview is preplanned and structured, in advance, depending on job requirements. The questions items for discussion are structured and experts are allotted different areas and questions to be asked. There will be very little room for the interviewers to deviate from the questions prepared in advance in a sequence.

Panel Interview:
Interviewing of candidates by one person may not be effective as he cannot judge the candidates in different areas/ skills owning to lack of knowledge and competence in multiple disciplines and areas. Hence most organizations invite a panel of experts, specialized in different areas / fields / disciplines, to interview the candidates. A panel of experts interviews each candidates, judges his performance individually and prepares a consolidated judgment based on each expert’s judgment and weighted of each factor. This type of interview is called as panel interview. This type of interview would be more effective as each candidate is prepared by an expert in relevant areas. Experts should be cautioned against over accuracy, excessive weight-age to a particular factor, domination of other experts etc.
Depth Interview: In this type of Interview, the candidates would be examined extensively in core areas of knowledge and skills of the job. Experts in that particular field examine the candidates by posing relevant questions as to extract critical answers from them, initiating discussions regarding critical areas of the job, and by asking the candidates to explain even minute operations of the job performance. Thus, the candidate is examined thoroughly in critical / core areas in their interviews.

How to Dress for an Interview

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.

You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.

How to Dress for an Interview:

Men's Interview Attire

* Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
* Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
* Belt
* Tie
* Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
* Little or no jewelry
* Neat, professional hairstyle
* Limit the aftershave
* Neatly trimmed nails
* Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

* Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
* The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
* Coordinated blouse
* Conservative shoes
* Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
* No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
* Professional hairstyle
* Neutral pantyhose
* Light make-up and perfume
* Neatly manicured clean nails
* Portfolio or briefcase

What Not to Bring to the Interview

* Gum
* Cell phone
* Ipod
* Coffee or soda
* If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
* Cover tattoos

Interview Attire Tips

* Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.
* Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
* If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.
* Polish your shoes.
* Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

Job Interviews and Answers

Interview Questions: Work History

* Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment. - Best Answers
* What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met? - Best Answers
* What were your starting and final levels of compensation? - Best Answers
* What were your responsibilities? - Best Answers
* What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? - Best Answers
* Which was most / least rewarding? - Best Answers
* What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position? - Best Answers
* Questions about your supervisors and co-workers. - Best Answers
* What was it like working for your supervisor? What were his strengths and shortcomings? - Best Answers
* Who was your best boss and who was the worst? - Best Answers
* Why are you leaving your job? - Best Answers
* What have you been doing since your last job? - Best Answers
* Why were you fired? - Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About You
* What is your greatest weakness? - Best Answers
* What is your greatest strength? - Best Answers
* Describe a typical work week. - Best Answers
* Do you take work home with you? - Best Answers
* How many hours do you normally work? - Best Answers
* How would you describe the pace at which you work? - Best Answers
* How do you handle stress and pressure? - Best Answers
* What motivates you? - Best Answers
* What are your salary expectations? - Best Answers
* What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make? - Best Answers
* Tell me about yourself. - Best Answers
* What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? - Best Answers
* What are your pet peeves? - Best Answers
* What do people most often criticize about you? - Best Answers
* When was the last time you were angry? What happened? - Best Answers
* If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? - Best Answers
* If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say? Best Answers
* Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? - Best Answers
* Give some examples of teamwork. - Best Answers
* What type of work environment do you prefer? - Best Answers
* How do you evaluate success? - Best Answers
* If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it? - Best Answers
* Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. - Best Answers
* Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. - Best Answers
* More job interview questions about your abilities. - Best Answers
* More job interview questions about you. - Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company

* What interests you about this job? - Best Answers
* Why do you want this job? - Best Answers
* What applicable attributes / experience do you have? - Best Answers
* Are you overqualified for this job? - Best Answers
* What can you do for this company? - Best Answers
* Why should we hire you? - Best Answers
* Why are you the best person for the job? - Best Answers
* What do you know about this company? - Best Answers
* Why do you want to work here? - Best Answers
* What challenges are you looking for in a position? - Best Answers
* What can you contribute to this company? - Best Answers
* Are you willing to travel? - Best Answers
* Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know? - Best Answers

Interview Questions: The Future

* What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you? - Best Answers
* What are your goals for the next five years / ten years? - Best Answers
* How do you plan to achieve those goals? - Best Answers
* What are your salary requirements - both short-term and long-term? - Best Answers
* Questions about your career goals. - Best Answers
* What will you do if you don't get this position? - Best Answers

Tough Interview Questions
These are some of the more difficult interview questions that you may be asked on a job interview.

Customer Service / Retail Interview Questions
These are questions you may be asked on an interview for a retail or customer service position.

Interview Questions to Ask
The last job interview question you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Have an interview question or two of your own ready to ask. You aren't simply trying to get this job - you are also interviewing the employer to assess whether this company and the position are a good fit for you.

Behavior Based Interview Questions
In addition to being ready to answer these standard questions, prepare for behavior based interview questions. This is based on the premise that a candidate's past performance is the best predictor of future performance. You will you need to be prepared to provide detailed responses including specific examples of your work experiences. The best way to prepare is to think of examples where you have successfully used the skills you've acquired.

Compile Responses to Interview Questions
Take the time to compile a list of responses to both types of interview questions and to itemize your skills, values, and interests as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize what you can do to benefit the company rather than just what you are interested in.

References
Expect to have your references checked prior to getting an offer. Plan ahead and compile a list of references and some letters of recommendations now, so you're prepared when the employer requests them.

Acing the Interview

Company Research

Research should always be your first step. Gathering background information on employers is a crucial element in successful interview preparation. You will need to be prepared to answer the questions "What do your know about our company"? and "Why do you want to work here?" Knowing as much as possible about the company's past performance and future plans can make your interview more interactive and could be just the leg up you need in a competitive job market. Before the interview review the company's web site and don't be afraid to contact your prospective employer to request details on the position you are interviewing for or to ask for company literature. Google the company to see what other information is available online.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice makes perfect (or at least leads to improvement). Practice with a friend and record or videotape your responses so you can replay the interview and see how well you did. Prepare answers to commonly asked interview questions. Doing so will help you analyze your background and qualifications for the position.

Behavioral Interviews

Behavior based interviewing is becoming more common. It is based on the premise that a candidates past performance is the best predictor of future performance. Rather than the typical interview questions on your background and experience, you will you need to be prepared to provide detailed responses including specific examples of your work experiences.

The best way to prepare is to think of examples where you have successfully used the skills you've acquired. Take the time to compile a list of responses to both types of questions and to itemize your skills, values, and interests as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize what you can do to benefit the company rather than just what you are interested in. Also prepare a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer. Remember, you aren't simply trying to get the job - you are also interviewing the employer to assess whether this company and the position are a good fit for you.

Prepare For the Interview

It is very important to be on time for the interview. On time means ten to fifteen minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the office ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going. Know the interviewer's name and use it during the interview. If your not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Remember to bring an extra copy of your resume and a list of references.

Stay Calm

During the interview try to remain as calm as possible. Ask for clarification if you're not sure what's been asked and remember that it is perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to frame your responses so you can be sure too fully answer the question.

End the interview with a thank you to the interviewer and reiterate your interest in the position. Then follow-up with a personal Thank You note restating your interest.