DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERVIEWS - By MaddaliSwetha

1. TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS: 

Sometimes an employer may ask to interview you by phone. Sure, this takes away the obvious advantages of going face to face, but, on the other hand, it gives you a couple of advantages, too. Pick a time and place that maximizes your comfort and privacy. Make sure you will be in a quiet setting. Schedule your phone interview carefully, avoiding times or situations when you might become hurried or interrupted.

If the employer calls without warning and you don’t have these conditions in place, politely explain that and ask to arrange a different call. You won’t have to sit in one of those uncomfortable hard-back chairs. And you can be equipped with notes. Keep these simple, you won’t want to be shuffling through papers, looking for your prepared answer to a question. Having a few helpful reminders on hand – points you want to be sure to make – can give you a boost. Don’t short-change yourself in preparing for a telephone interview. You should take exactly the same steps as you would for any other interview.

2. VIDEO INTERVIEWS: 

Talking to a camera can be taxing. Subconsciously, we are always looking for signals and reinforcement from our listener. Often, an expression or body language tells us if we are being understood or if we are successfully making our points. To be without that instant reinforcement and direction hurts. To the degree that you can, do your very best to remember that you are talking to a person. It might even help to envision someone if the situation is not a live, two-way video interview. If your career centre offers practice videotaped interviewing sessions, take advantage of them. If not, you may want to try it on your own just to get comfortable with the process.

3. GROUP INTERVIEWS: 

Interviewing panels or committees are commonly used in government, education, and social service agencies. You might find the prospect of facing a group of interviewers intimidating, but don’t confuse this process with the “Grand Inquisition.” Consider it an advantage. With more people in the room, everything doesn’t rest upon the reactions and judgement of one person. Although you may not click with everyone, your chances of finding an advocate within the group are reasonably good.

The most important thing to remember in such situations is to address every person in the room. They are all there to be a part of the hiring decision and if you seem to be talking with the highest ranking person or the friendliest face, you run the risk of offending someone else, losing their vote. From time to time, visually scan the room, making eye contact with even the most silent or foreboding members of the group.