An interview is a structured conversation where one person asks questions, and the other one answers. The word “interview” refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee in common parlance.
The more you know about the interview style, the better you can prepare. Here is a list of types of unique interviews:
The Lunch / Dinner Interview
This type of interview gives an employer an opportunity to evaluate your communication and interpersonal, social skills as well as your business etiquette and table manners. So order wisely and make sure you don’t spill your beverage.
This type of interview can have various question formats.
Lunch/Dinner Interview indicates that the interviewer wants to learn more about you and your behavior outside the office. This is still a part of your interview and you need to try to be your best when you are at it.
Competency-Based Interviews
These are conducted to show the employee’s competencies the employer is seeking for the job. These will usually be detailed in the job spectrum so make sure you research and read the relevant material thoroughly.
Portfolio Based Interviews
In the design/digital/communications industry, it is anticipated that you will be asked to take your portfolio along or show it to employers. Keep your work is up to date and balanced. Make sure that your images and fonts are big enough for the interviewer to look at properly.
Informational Interview
An informational interview is conducted with the objective is to take advice and acquire more knowledge about a particular organization, sector, or employer. Examining industry specialists is a great way to add to your employment knowledge. Gaining this information makes you extra prepared. It is also an exceptional way of networking and adding contacts.
Case Interview
The case interview is a specific format of the interview in which you’re given a business problem to solve or describe the process in detail. Case interviews were solely the field of striving consultants, however, now they’re conducted everywhere from tech companies to NGOs.
Your interview could be made up of case interview questions. The interviewer is may not look for the correct answer but wants to evaluate your problem-solving skills. If you do not have information to arrange a solution, you may need to ask the interviewer a question.
Task-Oriented or Testing Interview
In these types of interviews, you can express your creative and analytical capabilities in problem-solving through different tasks or exercises. It includes a short test to assess your technical knowledge and skills. Other tasks can be presenting to a group to define your communication skills.
The Sequential Interview
These are numerous interviews in turn with a unique interviewer each time. Each interviewer can ask a series of questions to test various sets of competencies. If you are asked the same questions, you can answer each one as thoroughly as you did the previous time.
Stress Interview
This interview involves the interviewer triggering you to see your response and reaction. The interview wants to check your weaknesses and your reaction under pressure. The interviewer can constantly interrupt you, provoke you, be oddly silent, and may also put across challenging interrogation-type questions to push you to your limits.
The Puzzle Interview
Highly competitive companies ask “puzzle” questions in their interviews. The interviewer wants to conclude how fast you can think on your feet, how you’ll approach a difficult situation, and how you can make development during a challenging situation.
The Working Interview
Some industries may ask the interviewee to complete a job task as part of the interview. Your interviewers basically want to see you doing the job instead of you telling them you can do it.
The Career Fair Interview
These interviews usually last for 10-15 minutes and involve impromptu interviews where you can grab your chance to be called for an actual interview.
Serial Interview
These interviews consist of a series of interviews on the same day. So if you are registered for an interview from 1-3:30, you may have five half an hour interviews with different people. Each interviewer will mostly ask you unique questions.
Conclusion
Some interviews may be formal, others are maybe informal. However, it is important to remember that you are still being evaluated on whether you are a right fit for the company or not, so prepare well, and keep your answers clear and to the point.