After the Callback, there are Many Types
of Job Interviews
Contributed by Sheri Graves
For all job seekers, the Holy Grail is the interview. Considering how many applications and resumes most companies receive when posting a job opening, the hard truth is that only a precious few get called back for an interview. When it happens for you, be sure you’re prepared.
When you do get the callback, the first question you should ask is, “What type of interview will this be. Is it a one-on-one or will there be a panel?” At that point, the caller should tell you what to expect upon arrival. However, they all like to withhold some juicy tidbit that will come as a surprise to you.
There are many types of job interviews. Here are some of them:
Internal interview: You’ve applied for another position in your workplace and will be interviewed by one or more members of the management staff who already know you and already have formed opinions about you. Without a window into their minds, how do you know what negative preconceptions you’ll have to overcome? How do you wow ’em without seeming overconfident or just plain silly? First, don’t try to become somebody you’re not. But, do dress the part and conduct yourself in a professional manner. Treat the interview as you would any other interview for another company.
Second interview: You’ve been called back for another interview, this time with additional decision-makers who are looking to narrow the field of applicants down to the cream of the crop. What can you say to them that will move your application into the winner’s circle? Since they already know about your employment history and skill set, what new information could they be seeking? The answer is, these people are more interested in your professional appearance, how you present yourself, how easily you field their questions. Use the second interview to wow ’em with your knowledge of their company and your ideas on how you can be an asset to the firm.
Technical job interview: You’ve arrived for your interview, but instead of asking you questions, the hiring specialist has given you a challenge to overcome. Walking in cold, you are told to complete a technical task typical of the work you would be performing if hired for the job. Fear not! If you’ve got the chops for the job, you’ll do well. How much work should you perform for a prospective employer when you haven’t even been hired yet? That’s a tough question to answer and it’s really up to the individual. However, it’s not wise to give a prospective employer more than two or three hours of work time unpaid.
Test interview: You’ve prepared yourself to answer any and all questions about your resume and your background, but instead have been instructed to complete one or more tests designed to assess your job readiness. Your test scores will determine your place in line for the face-to-face interviews. Don’t despair! As long as you haven’t lied about anything on your resume, you do have the skills to score well.
Brainteaser interview: You’ve had a nice chat with the interviewer and feel pretty good about the process so far. All of a sudden, you’re given a brainteaser, a question that seems completely off the wall and absolutely unrelated to the prospective job. The question could be as inane as, “How many fairies can dance on the head of a straight pin?” Or, it could be as complicated as one of those dreaded math questions in high school, such as, “If one train leaves San Francisco at 8 a.m. heading east at 90 miles per hour and another train leaves Chicago at 9 a.m. heading west at 70 miles per hour, what time is it in Bismarck, North Dakota, when the two trains pass each other?” In this increasingly popular questioning technique, the interviewer is less interested in your answer than in how you process the information. Smile at the interviewer. Take a deep breath. Think for a moment. Don’t worry about the silence. Be creative in your answer.
Remote interview: You’ve arrived for your interview expecting to face a panel of experts. Instead, you are seated in an empty room in a chair facing a videoconference setup wherein you’ll be questioned by interviewers in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and London. Not only that, there are others just like you in similar empty rooms in several cities around the globe. Typically, the interviewers can see you but you can only hear them. It’s unsettling but doesn’t have to derail your chances for the job. Smile! Focus on your presentation. Be animated, but only moderately so.
Email interview: You’ve been instructed to participate in the interview via email or Instant Messaging. There’s no face-to-face. There’s no chatty repartee. Everything is strictly business. How do you make yourself stand out from the other candidates when all you are asked to do is give brief answers to a series of fairly predictable questions? Don’t worry about it. This technique usually is only the first step of the interview process. It is meant to weed out illiterate or technically inept applicants.
Telephone interview: You’ve gotten a telephone response from your application and resume. But, instead of being asked to go to the company for an interview, you are expected do the interview right now via the phone. It throws you off guard. That’s the intent of this technique, to see how well you cope with the unexpected. Calmly say, “One moment please,” and put the phone down. Then, take a deep breath; grab your resume and notes from your research on the company. Return to the phone. Take another deep breath, Pick up the phone and go for it!
Getting through any interview successfully requires a great deal of preparation, including being up to date with the technology. Fortunately, as long as the work involves computers, there is a wide range of opportunities for free or low cost computer skill training. Whether you need to learn about digital photography or undergo a Microsoft® Excel® tutorial, or brush up with a Microsoft PowerPoint® lesson, you can get help from Video Professor®.
About the Author:
Sheri Graves is an award-winning writer who freelances from her home in Santa Rosa, California.
Microsoft, Excel, and PowerPoint are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.
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