10 Types of Interviews: How to Ace Every Type of Interview

A lifetime in the workforce will expose you to many types of interviews and many types of questions. Some of these interview types will be formal and highly structured, while others may feel loose and freewheeling. Each type of interview has its own attributes and its own requirements when preparing yourself.

1. 1. Face-to-face interview: Perhaps the most traditional interview format, the face-to-face job interview has if anything become more unusual, and potentially more consequential, in the era of online communication. When a hiring manager commits time and resources to meeting someone for an in-person interview, read it as a signal of sincere interest. Face-to-face interviews require extensive preparation in order to answer any extemporaneous questions that may come your way. While in the interview, pay heed to physical considerations like eye contact and controlled body language.
2. 2. Group interview: A group interview involves multiple job seekers getting interviewed at once. Hiring managers and human resource officers choose group interviews for their efficiency, but the interviews themselves can be awkward and stressful for candidates. If you’re summoned for a group interview, keep a level head, focus on the recruiter or company representative, and prioritize eye contact and welcoming body language.
3. 3. Phone interview: A telephone interview (sometimes called a phone screening or phone screen interview) is a job interview conducted over the phone, usually without video and relying solely on audio. Typically, phone interviews occur in the hiring process. Hiring managers use this type of interview as a preliminary screening before narrowing their options and selecting candidates for more personal follow-up interviews in the next round. Phone interviews can be slightly more challenging for job seekers than face-to-face interviews since they can offer less opportunity to make a personal connection.
4. 4. Video interview: A video interview takes place over a two-way video streaming application. It enables more of a personal connection than a phone interview, but it requires the interviewee to pay heed to eye contact and body language.
5. 5. Behavioral interview: Behavioral interviews ask job candidates to reflect on their past experiences and behavior to demonstrate their applicable skills for a role. This require job candidates to share their past experiences and how they handled specific situations. The questions asked may pertain to challenging moments in the workplace, establishing goals and achieving them, or collaborating with coworkers.
6. 6. Panel interview: In a panel interview, two or more company representatives interview a job candidate. You may find this stressful as an interviewee, but view it as a sign of interest since multiple employees are directing their time and headspace toward you.
7. 7. Case interview: A case interview centers around a specific problem or set of problems—often hypothetical but related to the specific requirements of the job. Popular in marketing, management consulting, and technology, these interviews require specific, deliberate preparation, but they also give you an opportunity to show your competency and creativity.
8. 8. Structured interview: A structured interview is one that follows a specific format. These intereviews tend to be quite formal, with less opportunity for casual, “getting-to-know-you” small talk. On the other hand, structured interviews can be quite predictable, allowing you to prepare most or all of your responses.
9. 9. Unstructured interview: An unstructured interview lacks the rigidity of a structured interview. Such interviews sometimes happen over a meal (picture a lunch interview or a coffee interview) or outside the office. An unstructured interview provides a job seeker with a venue to reveal their personality. It also provides a forum for both interviewer and interviewee to ask follow-up questions. When preparing for unstructured interviews, the trick is to not overdo it. Show your curious, inquisitive side, but stay on topic. Resist any urge to brag or show off, which can turn off an interviewer and obscure your best qualities.
10. 10. Informational interview: An informational interview is not a job interview. It’s a way of collecting information about a specific industry, company, or role so you can determine whether the profession is a fit for you. If you’re looking to make a career change, use an informational interview to have a candid conversation with a professional in the field that interests you.

Each interview technique mandates a unique preparation process, whether that’s cramming for common interview questions or researching company history before a formal interview. Apply four broadly relevant tips to virtually every interview type you may encounter.

1. 1. Present yourself as a professional. Whether you’re a formal job interview with a hiring manager or something more casual, you still want to maintain a professional demeanor. If the meeting is in person, wear business attire you feel confident in, and conduct yourself as if interacting with a new coworker. If the meeting is over the phone, take the call in a quiet space that is free from distractions.
2. 2. Bring a prepared list of questions. Some interview processes lend themselves to asking questions, while others present fewer opportunities. Either way, almost all interviewers will ask you if you have any questions at some point. It’s best to prepare for this opportunity in advance so you won’t have to completely improvise. You can either memorize your questions or read them from a small notecard. Rank your questions from most to least important, and start with the most crucial questions first.
3. 3. Do your own research. The job search can overwhelm even the most seasoned workers. Job descriptions don’t always aid a search; some are frustratingly brief and nonspecific. Give yourself an assist by doing a little research into the company and the open position in advance of the meeting. Also, research what kind of interview you’ll be sitting for; recruiters don’t always think to share this information.
4. 4. Keep stress in check. Interviews are like a performance, and for many people, they are stressful situations. Long before your interview, develop a regimen for calming yourself down. That might involve deep breathing, meditation, or controlled attention. Managing stress will help you be your best self in the interview room, and its benefits extend beyond any one single interview. A low-stress, mindful perspective will pay dividends in all corners of your life.

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