Meaning of interview:

The word interview comes from Latin and middle French words meaning to “see between’ or “see each
other”. Generally, an interview means a private meeting between people when questions are asked and
answered.

An interview is a face-to-face conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee, where the
interviewer seeks replies from the interviewee for choosing a potential human resource

An interview is the most prevalent kind of planned communication. Interview is a special technique of
communication that is used to examine the behaviour of an individual or individuals, to match their
statements and to study the clear conclusions of social interaction

 According to Gary Dessler, “An interview is a procedure designed to obtain information

from a person’s oral response to oral inquiries.”
 According to Thill and Bovee, “An interview is any planed conversation with a specific
purpose involving two or more people”.
 According to Dr. S. M. Amunuzzaman, “Interview is a very systematic method by
which a person enters deeply into the life of even a stranger and can bring out needed
information and data for the research purpose

So, an interview is formal meetings between two people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where
questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information, qualities, attitudes, wishes etc.

Types of interviews
There are several types of the interview;

1. Unstructured (Nondirective) Interview.

2. Structured (Directive) Interview.
3. Situational Interview.
4. Behavioral Interview.
5. Job-related Interview.
6. Stress Interview.
7. Panel Interview (Board Interview).
8. One-On-One Interview.
9. Mass Interview (Group Interview),
10. Phone Interview

 Unstructured interview
 also called non-directive interview, refers to an interview concept without any set
format in which questions are nor predetermined so the lack of structure enables the
interviewer to ask questions which come to his/her mind on the spot This type of interview
process resembles an open minded, informal, friendly conversation
 An unstructured interview is a flexible method of interviewing that uses a conversational
approach rather than pre-planned interview questions

 Structured Interviews
 A structured interview is a conversation where an interviewer asks an interviewee set questions in a
standardized order. A structured interview is a type of quantitative interview that makes use of a
standardized sequence of questioning in order to gather relevant information about a research
subject.

 A structured interview is also known as a patterned interview, planned interview or a standardized

interview.

A structured interview typically contains four types of questions.

 Situational questions: Pose a hypothetical job situation to determine what the applicant
would do in that situation.
 Job knowledge questions: Probe the applicant’s job-related knowledge.
 Job-sample simulation questions: Involve situations where an applicant may be required to
perform a sample task from the job.
 Worker requirements questions: Seek to determine the applicant’s willingness to conform
to the job requirements.

 Situational Interview
 In a situational interview, you ask the candidate what his or her behavior would be in a given
situation. Candidates are interviewed about what actions they would take in various job-
related situations. Situational interviews ask interviewees to describe how they would react to
a hypothetical situation today or tomorrow
 Behavioral Interview
In a behavioral interview, you ask applicants to describe how they reacted to actual situations in the
past.

The interviewer may also ask discretionary probing questions for details of the situation, the
interviewee’s behavior, and the outcome. The interviewee’s responses are then scored with
behaviorally anchored rating scales.

 Job-related Interview
In a job-related interview, the interviewer asks applicants questions about relevant past
experiences.
It is a series of job-related questions that focus on relevant past job-related behaviors. The
questions here don’t revolve around hypothetical or actual situations or scenarios
 Stress Interview
In a stress interview, the interviewer seeks to make the applicant uncomfortable with
occasionally rude questions. The aim is supposedly to spot sensitive applicants and those
 with low or high stress tolerance. Stress interviews may help unearth hypersensitive
applicants who might overreact to mild criticism with anger and abuse.
 Panel Interview (Board Interview)
A panel interview, also known as a board interview, is an interview conducted by a team of interviewers,
who interview each candidate and then combine their ratings into a final score.
 One-On-One Interview
In a one-on-one interview, one interviewer meets one candidate. In a typical employment interview, the
applicant meets one-on-one with an interviewer.
 Mass Interview (Group Interview)
The mass/group interview is a relatively new technique in the west and almost unknown. It is a
procedure for the discovery of leadership
 Phone Interview
Employers do some interviews entirely by These can actually be more accurate than face-to-face
interviews for judging an applicant’s conscientiousness, intelligence, and interpersonal skills

Types of Employment Interview

Main Types of Employment Interview

 (1) Planned interview.

 (2) Patterned structured interview.
 (3) Non-directive interview.
 (4) Depth and stress interview.
 (5) The group interview.
 (6) Panel or board interview
 (1) Planned interview

The interview, to achieve its desired objective, must be pre-planned. Before the interview starts, the
interviewer should prepare himself and should follow a definite plan of action. Before the candidate
actually arrives the interviewer should carefully study his application and try to memorise the more
important details.

(2) Patterned structured interview

Patterned interview is planned interview but it is planned to a high degree of exactitude. In other words,
it is highly structured and a more formalised type of planned intervie. Such traits are (i) stability; (ii)
industry; (iii) ability to get along with others; (iv) self-reliance; (v) willingness to accept responsibility; (vi)
freedom from emotional immaturity and (vii) motivation

(3) Non-directive interview

During the non-directive interview, which may be highly unstructured, the candidate is not directed by
questions as to what he should talk about. Basic to this procedure is the minimum use of direct
questions. Questions that can yield yes or no answers are avoided and instead broad general questions
are substituted

In general, the non-directive approach is characterised by such practices as listening carefully,

not arguing, not interrupting and allowing pauses in the conversation

4) Depth and stress interview

Depth interview as such is not a distinct type of interview. Here the interviewer only goes into
considerable detail on particular subjects of an important nature. Only through extensive probing
of a candidate’s background and thinking it becomes possible to evaluate him properly. Take an
example: a candidate has pointed out that touring is his favourite hobby.

(5) The group interview

The group interview is a relatively new technique in the West and almost unknown in our
country. It is a procedure for the discovery of leadership. Several job applicants are placed in a
leaderless discussion and interviewers sit in the background to observe and evaluate the
performance of the candidates

(6) Panel or board interview

Several individuals may interview one applicant. This is called a panel interview and because of
its cost it is usually reserved for managerial job applicants.

Interviewer preparation
Let's look at the steps to preparing for an interview
 Carefully examine the job description. ...
 Consider why you are interviewing and your qualifications. ...
 Perform research on the company and role. ...
 Consider your answers to common interview questions. ...

 Practice your speaking voice and body language

Preparing for an interview

Preparing for an interview primarily means taking time to thoughtfully consider your goals and
qualifications relative to the position and employer. To accomplish this, you should perform research on
the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would be a good fit.
1. Carefully examine the job description

During your prep work, you should use the employer’s posted job description as a guide. The job
description is a list of the qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in an ideal
candidate.

2. Consider why you are interviewing and your qualifications

Before your interview, you should have a good understanding of why you want the job and why you’re
qualified. You should be prepared to explain your interest in the opportunity and why you’re the best
person for the role.

3. Perform research on the company and role

Researching the company you’re applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview.
Researching the company and role as much as possible will give you an edge over the competition.

4. Consider your answers to common interview questions

While you won’t be able to predict every question you’ll be asked in an interview, there are a few
common questions you can plan answers for. You might also consider developing an elevator pitch that
quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want.

By: Indeed Editorial Team

Preparing for an interview might seem intimidating, but there are several steps you can take to
prepare yourself for a successful interview. In this article, we create an interviewing prep
checklist with 11 items.

Preparing for an interview

Preparing for an interview primarily means taking time to thoughtfully consider your goals and
qualifications relative to the position and employer. To accomplish this, you should perform
research on the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would
be a good fit. Let’s look at the steps to preparing for an interview.

1. Carefully examine the job description

During your prep work, you should use the employer’s posted job description as a guide. The job
description is a list of the qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in
an ideal candidate. The more you can align yourself with these details, the more the employer
will be able to see that you are qualified. The job description may also give you ideas about
questions the employer may ask throughout the interview.
2. Consider why you are interviewing and your qualifications

Before your interview, you should have a good understanding of why you want the job and why
you’re qualified. You should be prepared to explain your interest in the opportunity and why
you’re the best person for the role.

3. Perform research on the company and role

Researching the company you’re applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview.
Not only will it help provide context for your interview conversations, but it will also help you
when preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewers.

Researching the company and role as much as possible will give you an edge over the
competition. Not only that, but fully preparing for an interview will help you remain calm so that
you can be at your best. Here are a few things you should know before you walk into your
interview:

4. Consider your answers to common interview questions

While you won’t be able to predict every question you’ll be asked in an interview, there are a
few common questions you can plan answers for. You might also consider developing an
elevator pitch that quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want.

5. Practice your speaking voice and body language

It’s important to make a positive and lasting impression during the interview process. You can do this by
practicing a confident, strong speaking voice and friendly, open body language. While these might come
naturally to you, you might also want to spend time performing them with trusted friends or family or in
front of a mirror. Pay special attention to your smile, handshake and stride.

To learn more about interview body language, consider the following resources:

 How to Introduce Yourself in an Interview

 Everything You Need to Know About Job Interview Etiquette
 Job Interview Tips: How to Make a Great Impression

6. Prepare several thoughtful questions for the interviewer(s)

Many employers feel confident about candidates who ask thoughtful questions about the company and
the position. You should take time before the interview to prepare several questions for your
interviewer(s) that show you’ve researched the company and are well-versed about the position.
7. Conduct mock interviews

Just like public speaking, practicing interviews is the best way to relieve anxiety and improve your
confidence. Practice may be tedious, but repeatedly experiencing the interview process will make you
more comfortable and help you give the right impression.

8. Print hard copies of your resume

Most employers ask for digital copies of your resume with the application, but they may not have
easy access to it during the interview itself. Having copies to present to multiple interviewers shows
that you're prepared and organized

Physical preparation
The big day is drawing near, and now it’s time to work out how to do a job interview well
enough so that you get employed. Your physical preparation for the meeting is crucial.

A lot of my interview coaching clients ask me what they should wear to an interview.  It is a
good idea to find out what people normally wear at work and go one notch smarter. The trick is
to look like you are prepared for the interview and could roll up your sleeves and start the role
straight away.

Mental preparation
We've all heard the cliché that "attitude is everything." But if you're a job-seeker getting ready for an
interview, it's more than an empty phrase: It's a critical component of your successful preparation

My preparation helped me approach my interview with a calm, confident and positive

demeanor," Nagy says.

Staying positive all the time may not be realistic, but too much negativity can really hurt your
chances. If you take the time to prepare, you'll present the most relaxed, focused and confident v.
ersion of yourself. Here are six ways to be sure you're at your best for your next interview.

. 1. Give serious thought to your hard and soft skills

Review your top, job-related strengths, and be ready to emphasize technical or functional skills
such as account management, business development, sales support, project management or staff
supervision. Soft skills — personal attributes unique to you that will set you apart from other job
applicants — also help you work effectively with other people. Use words such as "adaptable,"
"collaborative," "resourceful," "intuitive," "influential" and "cost-conscious." Think about them
often so that when you're asked, "What skills would you deem most important in this position?"
you'll not only have the answer at your fingertips, you'll sound self-assured.

2. Think about your top accomplishments.

This requires putting pen to paper first and carefully choosing key success stories likely to
resonate with potential employers. If you have difficulties organizing your accomplishments, try
thinking about them in terms of problem, action and end result.

3. Invest some time and work with a career coach.

You'll have to pay for the service, but mock interviews provide powerful preparation. Consider
them mental workouts for your confidence. Just as importantly, you will be uncovering problem
areas, nailing down key strengths and skills, and reviewing career successes. And you will better
anticipate questions that the interviewer might ask about your employment history and other
considerations.

4. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes.

Imagine that while you're talking, the interviewer seems far away or uninterested. You can feel
your opportunity to sell yourself fading. Recognize the moment, and switch gears — think about
what questions you would ask a potential employee if the tables were turned. This shift in
perspective isn't easy, but it will help you to be more compelling and succinct and possibly
rekindle the interviewer's interest.

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, even for the seasoned professionals as there is always the fear
of the unknown. Although the success of the interview is dependent on how you explain your
relevant skills and experience; it is also about how you portray yourself. If you walk into an
interview as a nervous wreck, even if you have lots of relevant experience; you are unlikely to
get the job. On the other hand, if you remain calm and confident, you are much more likely to
express yourself better, which means a higher chance of success. Preparation is always the key
when it comes to interview and not just research, but mental preparation. These are some ways
you can mentally prepare for your interview, for the best possible chance of walking away with
the job.

Deep Breathing

When it comes to anything in life; whether it’s an exam, driving test, interview or any other
pressurised situation, nerves can get the better of us and lead us to failure. This is why it is so
important to ensure you go into an interview with a relaxed, positive frame of mind (easier said
than done, you may be thinking!) One way to conquer your nerves before an interview, is to
practice some deep breathing exercises. When we get nervous, our breathing can become erratic
which causes unnecessary panic. Breathing in slowly, holding the breath and exhaling, can help
keep your breathing at a steady pace, which will make you feel more relaxed and ready for your
interview.

Practice & Preparation

Everything is easier if you know what you are doing and nothing can be achieved without
practice. This is the same for interviews. You probably know someone who breezes any
interview they go to, but you can bet that they haven’t got to that place without a lot of practice.
Interviews can actually be enjoyable, if you really know your stuff, so make sure you practice. It
may be an idea to enlist the support of a friend or family member, who can take you through a
trial run and critique your performance.

Visualisation

The natural way most of us think is to visualise failure and we often feel that by doing this, we’ll
get a nice surprise if it works out better than expected. This is in fact the wrong way to look at
any situation. You should take time to visualise your whole morning going great and the
interview being perfect. Visualisation is a strong tool used by highly successful people, so it is
well worth trying it for preparation before your interview.  Imagine yourself leaving  the
interview knowing you’ve done the best job you can - whatever the final outcome.

Relaxation

It is important that you relax in the lead up to your interview, so the night or morning before it
should not be a stressful one. A relaxing bath or even a massage will help you feel mentally
prepared for your interview, as will a good, restful sleep. It is important that you are in a good
place in your mind before an interview, so you can portray yourself in the best way possible.  On
a practical level sort out your wardrobe and route the night before so you minimise the stresses
of the day.

Affirmations

A tried and tested method used by many for success in an interview is to affirm to yourself that
this is YOUR job and you are more than good enough to do it. The more you affirm your
capabilities to yourself, the better your chances will be of a successful interview.

Exercise

For some people, a good run, an exercise class or some weight lifting can really help get rid of
any nervous energy. It can also get the blood pumping to the brain and the limbs and make you
feel energetic and ready for anything. If you’re one of those people, build some time for exercise
into the interview day, even if it’s just a walk as part of your journey, or taking time to stretch
out that morning.
Follow these simple tips and you can smash those interview nerves.  

 
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Psychological priparation
Psychological preparation is the process of forming mental functions, processes, and
personality traits that provide successful solution of problems during training sessions and
competitions. Psychological stability is one of the components of the success in any sport.

In a job interview, preparing for specific questions is not enough.  If you want to make a great
impression and stand out from the crowd, we suggest you follow the strategies outlined below.

Adapting these frameworks will put you firmly in control of your job interview and improve
your chances of landing your dream job.

Develop Your “Elevator Pitch”

The average hiring manager interviews 8 people for every open role.  The number is high enough that
they generally have to go back to their notes to remember candidates.

Read about the Company

No matter how prepared you are to talk about yourself, not knowing the essentials of the
company you’re interviewing for conveys a lack of preparation and interest. You can’t show an
interviewer how you’ll fit in the company until you know the company
The Briefcase Technique

This is an amazing technique that will absolutely set you apart from your competition. The
following video provides more info of how and why this method works.

Diligence the Job You’re Applying for

Get to know the job you’re applying for intimately before arriving at your job interview.  Don’t
just read the job description—study it and research every task required of you.

When you interview, framing your responses so that you reveal your significant knowledge
about the job gives you a massive advantage.

Use insider information (via informational interviews ideally with someone in a similar position
to your interviewer) to make sure you speak their language — if you are interviewing at a highly
metrics driven org, then make sure you speak about KPIs that you believe they should be
tracking

Prepare a Story Behind Every Answer

While you should outline key points you will touch on if asked these questions, you need to be
ready for the interviewer to ask a follow-up question like, “What does this strength look like in
action?”

Prepare a story that really demonstrates your work or strengths in action.  Make it simple, high-
level, and relatable.  And make sure you have a great punchline speaking to your impact.

Practice, Practice, Practice

You, and everyone else interviewing for the job, already know many of the questions you’ll be
asked. The difference lies in preparation.  Preparing unique and position-specific responses will
give you the competitive edge over everyone else.

Project a Relaxed, Calm, and Positive Demeanor

Your hiring manager or future colleagues will feel more comfortable with you as a potential
colleague if you project a relaxed and calm demeanor.  Humans are attracted to confident people
and a telling sign of that is someone who is relaxed and calm.

Be Authentic

Good interviewers have a way of getting to the crux of who you are. They may have an innate
sense for reading people, or they might just be really good at asking the right questions.
Regardless, it’s essential to approach your interview with honesty
Bringing It All Together

Let’s face it, interviewing is still tough. It’s hard to show who you really are and what you’re
capable of during a quick sit-down chat.  These strategies will help you to eliminate nervousness
and anything unexpected that might derail an otherwise great job interview.

Self evalution

Self-evaluation is a procedure to systematically observe, analyze and value your own

professional action and its results in order to stabilize or improve it. This can take place on an
individual or on an organizational level. To self-evaluate means that people explore and evaluate
their own professional work.

In self-evaluation the demand for quality in research is adapted to the given resources. A
great advantage is the focus on practice: the procedure is directly connected with the
professionals’ expert knowledge and experience in their particular area of work. This leads
to high commitment and high identification with the evaluation results and increases
willingness to draw conclusions and transfer them into practice\

Top five interview dos and don'ts

It’s no surprise that a strong interview is a determining factor in securing a new position. The
more prepared you are, the more confident you will be - resulting in a better outcome.

To ensure you put your best foot forward we have outlined some common interview faux pas to
avoid when facing the pressure of a job interview.
So, what are the to1. Do your homework

Preparation is the first essential step in the interview process, so don’t let yourself down before
it’s even taken place. Researching the company you are meeting with will show your interest in
the business and give you an upper hand. Look at their website and what’s happening in the news
to widen your research and see what the media is saying about the company. Don’t limit your
research to this alone - make sure you research the background of your interviewers, including
their career history and specific achievements.

2. Make a good first impression

If you're going to a face-to-face interview, plan your trip there, do a trial run if it is at an
unfamiliar location and arrive a few minutes early for the interview. Late arrival for a job
interview is inexcusable. Bring your CV and ensure you know the dates and its specifics so you
can confidently talk through your CV and give examples.

For a video interview, minimise technical issues by testing your video tool the day before your
interview, on the day of your interview, ensure you are set up and ready to go at least 15 minutes
before your scheduled time, in a quiet and comfortable place. You won't have the luxury of being
able to offer a firm handshake or make eye contact with your interviewer, so the best alternative
is for you to smile confidently and appear interested and engaged.

p five things you should always do before or during an interview?

Looking the part is also important and you can rarely go wrong wearing a well-fitting suit. The
amount of care you take in your presentation is a sign of your interest in the role and your
seriousness in making a good impression.

3. Listen and respond accordingly

Too often the feedback from clients is that the candidate does not answer the question in a clear
and direct manner. Don’t run circles around the questions, listen and answer accordingly while
using examples from your experience to back it up.

4. Prepare smart, open ended questions to ask the interviewer

Remember that an interview is a two-way street, asking questions will help illustrate your
interest and motivation to succeed in the role and company, as well as get you noticed and
separate you from other candidates. It will also determine if this really is the opportunity or
business you want to join.

Communicating your experience and successes clearly will highlight any of your strengths that
are relevant to the role. 

5. Sell your strengths and expertise

Make sure that you communicate your strengths to the interviewer in a concise, factual and
sincere

Now you know what you should do, what are the top five things you should not do at an
interview?

1. Don’t speak poorly about your present or former employers

The interviewer will assume you will do this to them if you leave and question your
professionalism. This is a big red flag to anyone interviewing a candidate.

2. Don’t falsify information

Answer questions truthfully and as close to the point as possible. Explain and describe things
about yourself that relate to the position on offer, and truly reflect your past experience. If you
are being probed in an area that is not a strength, be honest and let your interviewer know you
are willing to learn or work on and how you can up skill in this area. Follow that with strengths
you have in another area that you could bring to the table.

3. Don’t speak over the interviewer

It is important to be a good listener as well as a good talker. It shows that you are
respectful and have strong interpersonal skills. If you are interviewing via a video platform
remember that there will be a slight time delay, avoid rushing to answer a question in case
your interviewer hasn't finished speking.

4. Don’t assume it isn’t an interview

Regardless of what interview stage you are at or who you are meeting - it may be over a coffee, a
few drinks or just labelled a final chat - it is still used as an opportunity to assess your suitability
for the potential role.

5. Don’t let any past rejections infringe on future ones

Finding a new job can be taxing, make sure you approach every interview as a new opportunity
and learn from past interview mistakes. If you have several interviews lined up, try to leave some
space between them to ensure you are at your best.
For further interview advice and some examples of competency based questions, please
download our full interview guide.