Types of interview

Interviews come in many shapes and sizes depending on their function. Most interviews are for the purpose of selecting someone for a job vacancy. The employer, senior managers or human resources (often abbreviated to HR) staff will meet with possible candidates, ask them a series of questions and then decide which person to offer the job to. Not all interviews are to do with applying for jobs though. 

For example, you may be interviewed to become a college student or to secure a place on a training course, to start voluntary work or to join a social club or society. Starting a new job does not necessarily mean that you have done your last interview for a while either. Many of us will be frequently interviewed once we are in a job, or studying on a course, by our supervisors, managers or tutors.

These interviews can have a variety of purposes: to appraise or review our progress; to monitor our performance in the job; to consider secific projects; to help us plan our future development; to resolve work or study problems and sometimes for mediation or disciplinary matters if work difficulties persist. Your ability to perform at these kinds of interviews once in a job can be a significant factor in your future career development.

Your profile with your managers and your reputation in the organisation can be affected by the way you handle all your interview experiences. Every event from regular work or team reviews to personal development planning and performance appraisals is a form of interview and needs your effective participation to make it a success.

What these different types of interview have in common is the need for you to put yourself across clearly, by showing your unique contribution to the team effort as well as your individual skills and strengths. You need to know how to plan ahead for every type of interview, how to prepare adequately for them all and come over at your best from start to finish.