There are several different types of interview so make sure you ask which type of interview you will be having before attending, you can find out by asking about the interview procedure, who will be conducting the interview and the purpose of it, when scheduling a time for the interview.

The objective of the interview is to:

• Assess the overall abilities of the candidate
• To review and classify the information on the resume

Telling the interviewer about yourself

Be prepared well before the interview to show yourself in the best possible light, prepare how you are going to respond to Questions such as “so tell me a little about yourself.” practise in front of a mirror speaking in a relaxed and confident manner. This is your chance to get across your experience, skills and achievements.

The preliminary or screening interview

This is an initial interview that helps the employer to find the right applicants for the job, many companies will choose to make this type of interview over the phone. This type of interview will provide the applicants with an opportunity to highlight skills, achievements and show enthusiasm.

The informal interview

This type of interview will usually be very relaxed and sometimes it will take place away from the work environment, if the interview is to be held over a meal then never drink alcohol even if asked.

The formal interview

This is the most common of interview types and will take place usually in the place of work and will be a one on one interview. The interview will usually be held by one of the key personal responsible for hiring.

The panel interview

During this type of interview several people may interview you at the same time; an important point to remember during this type of interview is to keep establishing eye contact with every panel member not just the person asking you Questions.

The group interview

This type of interview involves several applicants being interviewed together; the main reason for this type of interview is to see how well applicants interact with one another.

The stress interview

During this type of interview you will be purposely put in a stressful environment to see how you react to stressful situations, it is important to keep good eye contact and answer in a confident manner.

The advertising interview

Sometimes the interviewer may appear to be trying to sell you the job instead of the other way around, try to find out why the job is being sold to you and be on your guard.