Interviews: Getting an Interview

Types of interview

There are three types of interview that you may be asked to attend. They include:

• Panel interviews: where two or more recruiters are interviewing you
• One-to-one interviews: where only one recruiter interviews you
• Group interviews: where there are more than one applicant being interviewed and where team work normally takes place too.

Right! You have got offered an interview for a vacancy you applied for after working hard on your CV and job searching. Congrats!

You aren’t quite there though. It’s all about interview preparation, and it begins when you are offered an interview for a job. Consider these key points:

• What are the names of the interviewer(s)?
• Check what type of interview it is.
• What format is the interview? Competency based, presentation or test
• Research those who are interviewing you. I would recommend LinkedIn, but Google and other social media is good.
• Make sure you have the correct date and time of the interview. are you happy with the date and time?
• Will there be any distractions on the date and time of the interview? Make sure you don’t, as this will hinder your chances of getting the job.
• How would you get an invite? Via e-mail, a call or post?
• Is there anything specific that the interviewer(s) want you to do? If so, do you need to prepare for it? Make sure that you have it all ready for the interview.

Remember to have some questions ready to ask the interviewer(s), as most recruiters will be impressed if you ask questions. This will show them that you are well organised and know how to prepare. If you have an interview with a recruitment agency or recruiting department, it would be beneficial for you to ask them for additional hints or tips they may have. This is to give you a better chance of success at the interview.