What to Expect During a Job Interview

Stage One: Pre-Interview

Before attending the interview, you will have already completed a number of steps in the job application process; this is known as the “pre-interview stage.” During this stage, you will have sent a cover letter, a resume, and any other required application materials to the hiring manager.

You may have had a phone interview with the manager before being invited for an in-person interview. Thus, before actually entering the interview, the hiring manager knows a little about your background and qualifications.

Note: You should feel confident – you were invited for an interview because the manager believes you could be a good fit for the company!

Stage Two: Beginning the Interview

The interview may take place at your high school or university, but generally, it will be conducted in the company’s office or via web-based technology. Once you arrive, you may be asked (by a secretary or another staff member) to wait until the hiring manager is ready to see you.

Most interviews are one-on-one interviews with the manager or supervisor you will closely work with in the company. Sometimes, you may interview with a human resources staff member who conducts hiring at the company.

Stage Three: Types of Questions

The interview is likely to be held in the manager’s office. It may start with the manager providing information about their job or the company or engaging in small talk with you (questions about your commute, etc.), but the bulk of the interview will consist of specific questions assessing whether you would be a good fit for the company.

No two interviews will be exactly the same; each interviewer will ask a slightly different set of questions. However, most interviewers will ask questions to assess your overall behavior and skills. Here are some types of questions you can expect; most interviewers will ask some of each type of these questions.

Verification Questions: These questions will require you to provide objective information about yourself, such as your success rate, your major, the number of years you spent in your previous job, etc.

Competency/Behavioral Questions: These are questions where the interviewer asks you to describe a past situation when you demonstrated a certain trait. These questions assess how you handled similar situations in a new job. An example of a behavioral question is “Describe the hardest challenge you faced in your last job. How did you handle it?”

Situational Questions: These are questions where the interviewer describes a hypothetical situation, and the interviewee must explain how they would handle it or how they have handled it in the past. With this type of question, the interviewer wants to know how you would deal with situations that may arise in the workplace. An example of a situational question is “What would you do if you had a conflict between two members of your team affecting your productivity?”

Case Interview Questions: You may encounter case interview questions only if you are applying for a consulting position in business management or investment banking. In case interview questions, the employer presents the employee with a business scenario and asks how the interviewee would handle the situation.

Sometimes, these questions may be about actual business situations, but at other times, they may be brainteasers with no direct relevance to the job (“How many gas stations are there in Europe?”). Case interview questions give the interviewee an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical ability and problem-solving skills.

Stage Four: After the Questions

The interviewer may ask questions for a duration ranging from half an hour to an hour or more. After that, they are likely to ask you if you have any questions for them. This is your chance to ask questions about the company and/or the position itself. It also gives you another opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer.

Note: The interview is your opportunity to find out if the job is right for you, so don’t hesitate to ask questions.

After

The “Questions” Stage of the Interview may involve the hiring manager giving you a tour of the office and introducing you to other employees. This tour will give you the opportunity to meet your potential colleagues and evaluate the office atmosphere.

Although this is usually the end of the interview, some interviews may have additional components; for example, you might be asked to give a presentation to the hiring manager or a panel of employees. However, if this is the case, you will have been informed of this beforehand, and you will have time to prepare.

At the end of the interview, do not expect the hiring manager to tell you definitively whether you got the job or not. However, if they haven’t already told you when you’ll hear back, don’t hesitate to ask them before you leave.

The Fifth Stage: Post-Interview Stage

The next stage in the job application process, known as the “Post-Interview Stage,” occurs in the days following the interview. This is the time when the hiring manager (and anyone else involved in the hiring process) decides whether you are the right person for the position. It is also the time when you think about whether the job is the right fit for you.

Most companies will respond with a “yes” or “no” within two weeks, although some companies may take longer to respond (especially if they are conducting interviews over a longer period). Some companies, unfortunately, only respond if you will receive a job offer.

Note: If the company is still weighing options between several candidates, you may be asked to return for another round of interviews.

Remember that any interview is not a waste of your time, even if you do not get the job or decide that it is not right for you. Every interview provides an opportunity to practice your interviewing skills and to identify the types of jobs and organizations that suit your personality, interests, and skills.

Other Types of Interviews: Group Interviews

While this article depicts a traditional interview between the hiring manager and the candidate, there are other types of interviews you may encounter. Here are some common examples.

Group Interviews: You may encounter a group interview involving the hiring manager and other candidates at the same time. In this scenario, the interviewer may ask everyone the same questions or may ask each person different questions. Sometimes (especially if you are being asked situational interview questions), you will solve hypothetical problems as a team.

Interviews with Multiple Interviewers: Another type of group interview is one where questions are asked by multiple interviewers. Either the interviewers form a panel and take turns asking you questions, or the interviewer meets with each one separately.

Whether you are in a group interview or not, your interview questions will still be a mix of verification, behavioral, and situational questions.

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-to-expect-during-a-job-interview-2063897