INTERVIEW

What is an Interview?

An interview is a conversation between two or more people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.

TYPES OF INTERVIEW


1. One-to-one Interview
This is the most common type of Interview. In the One-to-one interview the candidate for employment meets directly with the interviewer.


2. Phone interview
Phone Interviews are becoming increasingly popular among large corporations who are conducting a mass-hiring of employees. These interviews are conducted entirely over the phone and eliminate bias that may arise from a candidate’s appearance, mannerisms, or ethnicity. Often times, phone interview questions are structured and the question are behavioral in nature; to further eliminate bias.

3.Group interview
In the group interview style you will be interviewing simultaneously with two or three other candidates all vying for the same position. In this interview style one or more applicants may be asked the same question or the pool of applicants can be broken into teams to determine a solution to a problem posed by the interviewer. This style of interviewing is most common in the technology fields or any field where group cohesiveness is of extreme importance.


4.Panel Interview
A panel interview involves three or more members of the hiring organization meeting simultaneously with the person being considered for the position. This interview style is most common in academia or when hiring a senior level corporate executive. The term “search committee” is commonly used to describe a Panel Interview.

In preparing for a panel interview it is best to understand an organization from every point of view. For example, if you are going to be interviewed by an organization’s Customer Service Manager, Finance Manager, and Human Resources Manager; you should familiarize yourself with current information about the organizations customer service policies, finance policies, and HR policies.


5.Mock Interview
The Mock Interview allows prospective job candidates to practice their interviewing skills in a simulated interview environment. Mock interviews provide constructive feedback to the participants to enhance job prospects by improving interview skills.


6.Career fair interview

A conversation during a career fair can be considered a screening interview. It is generally, 2-10 minutes in length with a human resources representative or a technical manager in your field. If mutual interest is established, it is likely you will be invited for further interviews.

Because your meeting is brief, you will need to make an immediate positive impression. Research the employer and be prepared to match your background and interests to their needs.

7.Site interview

The site interview takes place at the employer's site. It is a selection interview, following a successful screening interview (phone, career fair, on-campus). This is very good news for you since you are now 50% closer to a job offer. There is however, still work to do!

Clarify the details of the visit in advance (date, location, length of visit, travel arrangements, suggested attire, expenses.) You may be scheduled for a half or full day of interviews, which may include a meal, a tour of the facility, and an overnight stay.

To prepare for a site visit, conduct in-depth research on the employer and their location. Dress professionally and arrive 15-20 minutes early. Bring ten copies of your resume, reference list (graduating students), and unofficial transcript. If you have a portfolio or sample of your work, bring it with you.


8.Behavioral Interviewing (Behavior Based Interviewing or Structured Interviews)

A structured interview is a type of interview that is utilized by many larger organizations.
This interview is especially popular when there is more than one of the same position
available within the organization. In a structured interview every applicant for the
position is asked the same questions as every other applicant applying for the position. A
structured interview may contain standard interview questions, behavioral interview
questions, or a combination of the two.


9.Informational Interview

"Information Interviewing" is a technique used to explore and research occupations and organizations. Information interviewing is discussed in nearly all career planning and job search books as a strategy that works. It involves talking with people who are in an occupation you are considering, potential employers, or simply contacts who may help provide information or further contacts for you. Information interviewing has several benefits, including:

* Discovering "first hand" information about an occupation. Reference books can provide facts about an occupation, such as salary and demand, but information interviews provide a personalized perspective of an occupation or job.
* Access to the "hidden" job market. Only 20% of all job openings are advertised! Direct contact and networking is essential to finding out about unadvertised job openings. Information Interviewing is not a job interview, but it can be a helpful first step in eliciting information about a prospective employer.
* Improvement of self-confidence and interviewing skills.

This handout explains how to set up and conduct an information interview. The more prepared you are for an information interview, the more you will get out of it!

Informational Interviewing Tips

STEP 1: Plan Your Goals. Determine your purpose for the information interview.

STEP 2: Identify Occupations, Job Titles, or Potential Employers. Begin by identifying occupations, job titles or potential employers that you want to explore. Research these areas as thoroughly as you can before you begin your information interviews to better prepare yourself for the interviews.

STEP 3: Identify Potential Contacts. Begin to identify contacts through family, friends, instructors, employer directories, employer listings, telephone directories, and other networking contacts within the community. You may have to contact the organization directly to identify someone you can interview. Once you have researched your area thoroughly, you should be familiar with professional titles for the types of people you're trying to contact. As an example, if you are interested in a marketing position, you might contact a particular company and ask for the name of the director of the marketing department. Usually you don't have to identify yourself to elicit the name, title and business mailing address of the individual. Once you've developed a list of contacts, it's time to set up the interviews.

STEP 4: Schedule Information Interviews. You can either write a letter or call to arrange an appointment with the individual; however, direct telephone calls are usually the most effective. Once you have contacted the individual, state your purpose. You might begin your conversation like this:

* Student: "Hi, Ms. Smith, my name is __________, and I'm a University of Florida student. I'm very interested in the marketing field and I'm trying to find out as much as I can about it. I have read a lot about the area, but I really feel it might help to talk to someone who works in the field. I would appreciate meeting with you to discuss this occupation, if you have the time. The interview would only take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. My schedule is flexible and I can meet with you at your convenience."

Be sure to make it clear that you're not looking for a job at this time, but that you are just trying to obtain information.

STEP 5: Prepare Your Questions. Based upon your goals for the interview and the results of your research of the area, prepare your questions for the interview. Try to make them open-ended questions, meaning those which can be answered other than by "yes" or "no." The suggestions below may give you some ideas:

* What is a typical day in the life of a ?
* How did you get interested in this occupation?
* What do you like and dislike about your occupation?
* What is a typical career path in this occupation?
* What kind of academic/training preparation do you recommend for this occupation?
* What is the projected growth in this occupation?
* What skills should I be developing?
* Are there any clubs or organizations you would recommend?
* What is the organizational structure and where does your position fit in the organization?
* Is there someone else you can suggest for me to contact?
* If you were going to hire a new entry level person, what would a highly qualified candidate be like?
* What are the major challenges/problems that your organization is facing in the coming year?

STEP 6: Conducting the Interview. You should try to dress in business attire. Arrive early for the interview. When you meet your interview contact, you should shake hands and exchange greetings. Take notes during the interview. At the end of the interview, shake hands again, and express your appreciation for the interview. You should send a thank you note to the contact following the interview.


10. Interview During Meal

It is rare that a first interview will take place during a meal; more commonly second interviews could involve lunch or dinner (but not always). In any case, if you are having a discussion in an office which then continues over a meal, remember that you are being "interviewed" in both settings. What you say and do will be under review until you say goodbye.

A few guidelines will help to make the meal less stressful. If you have questions about table manners, brush up with an etiquette book. Order something that is easy to eat-stay away from items such as shish-kebab, french onion soup, and spaghetti or linguine. Beware of finger food. You will want to be able to eat small bites of your food without dropping or spilling anything.

Follow the lead of your host(s) regarding which courses and generally which items to order. You may want to ask, "What do you recommend here? " so that you will have an idea of what they are likely to order. Order items within the same price range or lower, and never order the most expensive item on the menu. If others are ordering an appetizer and an entr�e, you should do the same. If no one orders dessert, you should refrain.

Ninety-nine percent of the time it is unwise to drink alcohol in an interview setting. If you are at a group dinner or a cocktail reception where wine is served and your host(s) are having a glass, you may want to have a glass to be sociable, but don't drink all of it. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your judgment.

Be prepared to ask a few questions during the meal, or you may end up with a full plate of food when others are ready for coffee. A meal may be a good time to ask your interviewer(s) about his or her career path(s). Whatever happens, remember what your parents told you about never talking with your mouth full!

Seven Things To Never Order at a Meal Interview

* Spaghetti

* Pizza

* French Onion Soup

* Most expensive item on the menu

* Least expensive item on the menu

* Any fish with the head or bones still attached

* Any food that requires fingers or a bib

11.Interviewing via Video Conference

Video conferencing is becoming a popular way for companies to interview remote candidates and offer training to distant users. Real video conference set-up are available at Kinko's, in major corporations, or even at many universities. Internet video conference allows some of the same capabilities for much less cost.

If you learn you are to be interviewed through a video conference, it's a good idea to practice interviewing so you can get used to controlling your body language and expression. This will also give you a chance to be prepared for how the transmission delay may affect your comfort and ability to communicate verbally and physically with your interviewer. Grab a friend and a video camera for your computer, and practice.

12.Case Interview

Case interviews are broad, two-way discussions, rather than one-way tests and there is no perfect answer. You will be assessed more on how you go about dealing with the problem, rather than on the specific answers you come up with.

As you work through the business case with your interviewer, you will also become better informed about our firm and the kinds of problems we solve. Most candidates enjoy the cases and the business issues they raise. Your approach to the case and the insights you reach will give you an opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and help us get a sense of your potential.