When you picture a job interview, what comes to mind? More likely than not, you are thinking of a traditional panel interview. You’ve likely been in a few of these, where a candidate sits at a table across from members of a hiring committee and is asked common questions like “tell me about yourself” or “what are your strengths”. However, panel interviews aren’t the only types of job interviews used by employers.
In this article, we’ll help you prepare for the following types of job interviews:
- Panel
- Phone pre-screening
- Video
- Coffee
- Group
Keep reading to learn about these interview types and how to ace them!
Panel
Panel interviews involve a candidate being interviewed by members of a hiring team. The hiring team typically consists of managers, human resource officials, and other relevant staff in relation to the position. These interviews can range in length from 45 to 90 minutes. Panel interview benefits include allowing for several opinions and viewpoints to be brought into the hiring process. However, they can sometimes feel very rigid.
In these interviews, focus on engaging with the panel in meaningful ways. For example, try and make eye contact with every panel member throughout, and ask specific panel members useful questions at the end of your interview.
Phone pre-screening
A phone screening call is when a recruiter speaks with a candidate before offering them a formal interview. These calls can range in length from 15 to 30 minutes and generally use similar questions as panel interviews. While shorter than a typical panel interview, pre-screening calls should still be taken seriously and treated like a traditional in-person interview. On the call, dress nice, and sit up straight at a chair, ideally at a desk. Don’t be too casual in your language and conversation. Of course, engage in some small talk. However, treat your answers to questions with the same thoughtfulness and formality that you would in an in-person panel interview.
Video
Video interviews, often conducted on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, are technically an interview format, and not an interview type. For example, you may have a panel or pre-screen interview conducted in the format of a video interview. However, it’s important to discuss these separately as they pose additional considerations that are unique.
For any virtual interview, it is imperative to set yourself up for success. Do a technology test that includes video and audio, find a quiet interview environment and be mindful of what will show in your video (e.g., try an area of your bedroom with a clean background), reduce household wifi use during the interview to ensure a strong connection, and be prepared to troubleshoot during the call if necessary (e.g., switching to the phone with a call-in number, or switching to/from earbuds depending on the audio).
Coffee
Coffee interviews are a casual meeting in a public setting between a candidate and hiring manager. These interviews are typically shorter (e.g., 30 minutes), but can be longer depending on the discussion. For coffee interviews, offer to pay for your own food or drinks, and don’t order anything too messy. It is important to remain professional yet show your personality. Be friendly and enthusiastic, but don’t let yourself get too casual in your mannerisms or answers. Being in a public space can contribute to distraction, so do your best to stay focused on the interviewer.
Group
Group interviews involve several candidates being interviewed at the same time. These interviews are typically used when an organization is looking to hire for multiple candidates for more than one position in a shorter timeline. They can be a popular choice for job fairs or seasonal hiring. Group interviews range in length from 30 minutes to upwards of a few hours. Be prepared for icebreakers, circle conversations, and even a game or two. View your fellow candidates as your collaborators versus the competition. Give in to the unconventionality of the interview and have some (professional) fun showing off your skills through the activities (e.g., problem-solving, communication, collaboration, etc.).
General job interview tips
- Confirm the interview type before your job interview.
- Dress professionally.
- Act professional.
- Do your research on the role, organization, and hiring committee beforehand. This includes understanding the company’s age, size, their main values, and recent projects
- Bring the proper supplies. This includes:
-
- Your resume
- Your cover letter
- The job posting
- Summary of key facts about the company
- Bullet point notes of key professional experiences you can use to help answer the interview questions (refer to this article for the STARF METHOD for answering interview questions)
- Pencil or pen
- Notebook
Additional resources
For more information on interview preparation and job-seeking strategies, check out CharityVillage’s FREE guides and articles:
Julia Halabourda is an experienced Burnaby art and recreation programmer, educator (focus in the fine arts and theatre), and nonprofit writer. She has her Bachelor of General Studies from SFU’s Faculty of Education with Minors in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Psychology, and Social Justice in Education. She also has her Nonprofit Management Associate’s Certificate from BCIT. Julia has been writing with CharityVillage since August 2020 and her past articles can be accessed here. Julia can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-halabourda/.