Interviews

When exploring the job market, you will inevitably be invited to an interview. Contrary to popular belief, types of interviews surpass the basic ‘one-to-one’ interview between the employer and candidate. This document outlines the various different interviews that you may be invited to attend.

The ‘one-to-one’ interview is the most personal interview. In this instance, only the candidate and the employer will be present and the questions will be of both a technical and personal nature. This type of interview is common when the interviewer is trying to get to know the interviewee.

General questions are asked to test your problem solving skills and your ability to think on your feet. You should always jump at the opportunity to tell the interviewer about your achievements whether they were at school or at work.
Most first interviews will be one-to one as opposed to second interviews which will sometimes be between the candidate and a panel of supervisors.

The ‘panel interview’ is one of the more intense interviews due to the sheer volume of questions you are likely to be asked. Each interviewer has most likely planned their own questions in advance and being that there is a group of people, they most likely have discussed exactly what they are looking for. It is best to stay calm and try to keep your composure. The interviewers will be expecting nerves.

Depending on the position you are applying for, the panel you will be faced with will generally be made up of supervisors/CEOs.

Try to prepare for the interview as much as possible. You will impress if you sound as though you have more than a basic knowledge of what the company does. When a particular person asks you a question, address the whole group with your response rather than keeping the focus on the question asker.

The panel will be looking to see how well you handle pressure, therefore if you start to feel as though things are going down hill, take a deep breath and remember – if the panel looks as though they are loosing interest, they will be more impressed if you can win them back!

The ‘group interview’ is when employers have invited more that one applicant to the same interview. This can be stressful but it is also a great chance to shine by ensuring that you are more confident and prepared than the competition.

In this interview, the employers will be looking for:

• Your ability to lead
• What level of knowledge you have
• How you put that knowledge to good use
• Good communication and social skills
• How well you handle a competitive situation
• How well you are able to deal with stress

Remember to try to get your opinion across whilst still letting the other candidates speak. When speaking, address the whole group and try to avoid getting into one-to-one conversations. It is important that the interviewer remembers you once the interview is over. Always say thank you and give them a firm hand shake.

The group interview is usually the first interview and is used by many employers as a way of separating weak and strong candidates.

The ‘phone interview’ is quite uncommon and is generally used when the position in question will require a great deal of time talking on the telephone. It is a good way for employers to assess your telephone manner.

When talking to an employer over the phone, bear in mind that you do not have the advantage of body language – so show enthusiasm! Remember that it is harder to hear someone on the telephone so you should speak more clearly and slower than you might do usually. You should also try to avoid the use of slang.

Background noise can make it more difficult for your interviewer to hear you so ensure that your mobile phone is switched of as well as music. Remove any distractions from the room eg pets. Also, it is not a good idea to be chewing, eating or drinking whilst on the telephone.

One advantage of the telephone interview is that you are free to have some helpful notes in front of you. It is always a good idea to have a list of your strengths handy incase you loose your train of thought. It also never hurts to practice a phone interview with a friend before hand.

Finally, avoid discussing salary over the telephone. This is a subject that should be addressed face to face.
The ‘lunch time interview’ is basically the same as a one-to-one interview however it requires a slightly different approach and preparation.

Bear in mind that your interviewer wants to find out about your job history, qualifications and personality. They will not be scrutinizing your lunch etiquette (although a certain level of decorum must be applied).
Try to avoid dunking bread in soup, drinking alcohol, putting your elbows on the table, speaking with your mouth full and chewing with you mouth open.

It is advisable to have a look at the menu before the date of the interview as you do not want to spend too long deciding what you would like. It is always sensible to order a light meal as you will be talking more than the interviewer and therefore are likely to finish last.

Use common sense and do not choose a meal that might leave you with unpleasant breath or one that is difficult to eat eg oysters. Your attention should always remain on the interviewer rather that your meal.
The bill will usually be paid by the person that initiated the meeting. This is why it is polite to order a meal in the same sort of price range as the interviewer.

(This publication is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Consequently AccountingJobs.co.uk Ltd cannot accept any liability for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon this information.)