Interview Types and How To Prepare

If you have been following Career Zone over the last few months, you have learned how to network and use social media to your advantage in your job search. But what happens when you finally get the big interview? Do you panic? In this three-part series you will learn about the different types of interviews, how to be prepared for your next interview and the answers you need in order to get the job offer.
Let’s start by reviewing the different types of interviews you may encounter while job hunting.
Knowing the different types of interviews you might encounter will keep you better prepared to ace the interview and get the offer. Keep in mind that no matter the type of interview (as described below), the interviewer will have goals and objectives of his/her own. Many companies have candidates meet with 2-6 people per interview. When I consult with hiring managers, I always suggest that different people on their team screen for different skills/attributes/fit. For example, a candidate may meet 3 different people in one afternoon:

• Interview 1: Asks more functional questions to assess your knowledge of the specific job.
• Interview 2: Determines if you fit into the culture of the company and assesses your knowledge of the products/services of the company.
• Interview 3: Asks behavioral questions to address how you would solve typical business problems.

The interview types are:
The Behavioral Interview: A behavioral interview is a structured interview and requires you to answer questions based on past behaviors. The idea is that past performance and behaviors are the best predictor of future performance. The interviewer questions and probes for detailed behavioral evidence of what you said, did, felt and what the results were of various situations in your past. An example of a behavioral interview question is “tell me about a situation when you handled a customer complaint" or “describe a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem”. My suggestion is to always frame your answer using the PAR format - problem, action, result. Behavioral interviews provide you an opportunity to present the skills and abilities that are needed for the job you are interviewing for.
The Business Case Interview: A business case interview is broadly defined as an interview geared around solving problems on the spot. The business case interview will determine how detail oriented you are by giving you a problem and seeing how you work it out. This type of interview can take many forms, but in every instance, the interviewer is looking to judge your: analytical thought process, business knowledge, business acumen, quantitative analysis, creativity and communication skills.
The Informational Interview: This type of interview is not a job interview. It is an opportunity for you to meet with an individual currently working at a company of interest or in your field of interest. The informational interview enables you the opportunity to acquire knowledge about their background, experiences and learn what is going on in the company/field of interest. Nevertheless, it is a professional interview and you should prepare for it as such. Some questions you can ask on an informational interview include:

• How do most people get their jobs in this field/at this company?
• What is your function in this company?
• Tell me about the industry/company?
• What are the short and long-term opportunities for growth in this industry/company?
• What trends do you see taking place in this profession?
• What is the one thing you would have wanted someone to tell you about this career/company?
• Do you know of other people who might be willing to give me additional information?
• Can you recommend any sources for more information?

The Phone Screen Interview: This is the most common type of first interview where you speak with the recruiter or human resources person whose role is to screen applicants and arrange for interviews with the hiring manager and other key decision makers. Typically during the phone screen the company is trying to ensure that you meet the basic criteria for their positions and eliminate applicants who are not the best fit for the position. When you speak with the employer for the first time, be prepared to ask some of the following questions:

• What about my résumé/application sparked your interest?
• What is the interview and screening process?
• Who will I be speaking with during the interview process? (Find out the name, title, and phone number of the person if possible.)
• How much time will I need for the interview(s)?
• What should I do to prepare for the interview?