STAGE 1: Introduction
Lasting approximately two to three minutes, you are meeting the interviewers and being escorted to the interview room. It is essential that you start strong, offering a firm handshake, standing confidently, and making good eye contact. Some reports indicate that employers will make their decision to hire a candidate within the first 30 seconds of the interview! Employers may take the time to share information about their organization. Feel free to jot down notes to remember key points for future reference.
STAGE 2: Q&A
The longest portion of the interview, this is when the employer asks you questions and listens to your responses. If the interview is a 30-minute screening interview, this portion is typically about 20 minutes long.
STAGE 3: Your Questions
The employer will ask if you have any questions. This is your chance to demonstrate your knowledge of the organization by asking thoughtful questions. Always come prepared! Bring at least three questions, but also feel free to modify them based on the information you learn during the interview. Be sure to make notes as the interviewer answers your questions.
STAGE 4: Closing
During the last few minutes, take the time to end on a positive note. Reiterate your interest in the position and gather business cards from everyone present. Be sure to thank themfor the invitation to interview and offer a firm handshake while making good eye contact.
SampleQuestions to Ask Your Interviewer
The most effective questions are those that demonstrate your sincere interest in the position and organization.
- Can you describe the organizational structure of your company/agency/organization?
- How does the area I would be working in fit into the overall organizational structure?
- Can you describe the corporate culture or atmosphere of your company?
- What kind of supervision and training would I receive?
- How will I receive feedback on my job performance?
- Would I be working on my own, or on a team? Can I meet my team members?
- Would I be working with people outside of the company? Clients? Vendors?
- Would my responsibilities progressively increase throughout my work terms?
- Would I have the opportunity to travel?
- Have you ever hired a UMBC student/graduate before? Are they currently working for you? May I speak to them at some point?
- How would you describe the ideal candidate for this job?
- What do you enjoy most about working here? What would you change if you could?
- How would you describe a typical day in this position?
- What specific projects do you see me starting first?
- What skills are most important for this job?
- What are the prospects for advancement beyond this level?
- How many people have you hired as interns/co-ops in the past, and where have they gone after they graduated?
- Would it be possible to see where I’d be working?
- Your annual reports show a steady growth over the last three years. How rapidly do you plan to grow over the next three years?
- What particular computer equipment and software do you use?
- How much opportunity is there to see the end result of my efforts?
- What are the next steps in the interview process? How would you like to be contacted for follow up?
Are There Any Questions I Shouldn’t Ask?
Never, never, never ask any questions about salary, benefits, vacations, holidays with pay or sick days. Wait for the manager to bring up the issue of salary or wages. When they ask what salary you expect, ask what the standard salary is for your qualifications. Keep in mind that the company has a set salary for each job description and level of experience. So, play it safe. Wait forthe manager to throw out the first figure. See: Negotiating and Evaluating Offers.
If You Want the Job, Ask for It!
Managers get frustrated when candidates don’t express enthusiasm for the job. If the manager seems to be someone you’d like to work for, if the company seems solid and reputable, if they offer the security, growth and challenge that you want, look the manager straight in the eye and tell them you want the job.
FAQs
Any job interview can be broken down into four general stages: introductions, broad questions and answers, position-related questions, and the conclusion. Take a look at some of our sample interview questions and questions you can ask an interviewer. Think about when they may come up during the stages described below.
What are the 5 steps for interview? ›
Interview Process Steps
- Introductions.
- Small Talk.
- Information Gathering.
- Question/Answer.
- Wrapping Up.
Stages of the Interview
- STAGE 1: Introduction. Lasting approximately two to three minutes, you are meeting the interviewers and being escorted to the interview room. ...
- STAGE 2: Q&A. ...
- STAGE 3: Your Questions. ...
- STAGE 4: Closing.
What are the steps of the hiring process? Here are the five distinct phases during the hiring process that recruiters can assist hiring managers with: opening the requisition, screening the applicants, interviewing the candidates, selecting the best, and making the offer.
What are the 3 levels of interview? ›
Most job interviews can be broken down into three phases: Introduction, Getting to Know You, and Closing.
What are the 4 C's of an interview? ›
The secret to asking great questions in an interview is to use the following 4Cs as your guidelines: Connect; Corporate Culture; Company Challenges; Closing Conversation.
What are the 7 steps in interview? ›
- SEVEN STAGES OF AN INTERVIEW.
- BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.
- provide them with information about the job. INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
- BUILD RAPPORT.
- INTERVIEWER ASKS QUESTIONS.
- Revised 12/23/2015. INTERVIEWEE ASKS QUESTIONS.
- organization / company / agency? “) CLOSING.
- AFTER THE INTERVIEW.
- Screening. Many employers conduct a preliminary interview to determine whether you're a viable candidate for the job. ...
- First interview. Typically, the first interview is the first face-to-face meeting with your potential employer. ...
- Second interview. ...
- Third interview. ...
- The decision.
How many interviews should you expect? It depends on the sector, the employer and the role, but most candidates go through five stages. We asked managers and recruiters to provide their insights on how to ace all of these interviews.
What are the six 6 steps in conducting an interview? ›
How to Conduct an Interview: 6 Ways Managers Can Prepare
- Revisit the job description.
- Closely review the candidate's work history.
- Create a general structure for the process.
- Prepare and memorize your must-ask questions.
- Use a mix of question types.
- Practice how to conduct an interview.
A first-stage interview focuses on a candidate's qualifications, employment history, and experience. If successful, the candidate will progress to another round of interviews with managers and staff members.
What is the rule of 3 in interviewing? ›
If you want to appear knowledgeable or otherwise prepared in a job interview and not embarrass yourself, try to know at least three different facts about anything that you claim to have knowledge of—whether you are the one being interviewed or doing the interviewing.
How many rounds of interview is normal? ›
How many interviews is too many? So how many rounds of interviews should you actually be conducting for each role? Most jobs may only require 2-3 rounds of interviews. This is often a good balance for evaluating candidate skills and qualities while avoiding interview fatigue.
How many job interviews before an offer? ›
According to Zippia, job seekers have a 26.24% probability of receiving a job offer. And researchers have found that the average number of interviews before getting a job offer is anywhere between 10 and 20, with every application having an 8.3% chance of proceeding to the interviewing stage.
What are the 5 do's and 5 don'ts during an interview? ›
Top five interview dos and don'ts
- Do your homework. ...
- Make a good first impression. ...
- Listen and respond accordingly. ...
- Prepare smart, open ended questions to ask the interviewer. ...
- Sell your strengths and expertise. ...
- Don't speak poorly about your present or former employers. ...
- Don't falsify information. ...
- Don't speak over the interviewer.
Interviewee: Before your interview, you must ensure you understand the six Cs of nursing, which are: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. It's not enough to say what they are – you need to share examples of when you've successfully exhibited all these traits.
What are the most 5 common types of interview? ›
There are several different types of interviews but five common types to be familiar with are in-person interviews, phone interviews, virtual interviews, panel interviews and informal interviews.
What are 6 steps to an interview? ›
- Step 1 - Prepare.
- Step 2 - Practice.
- Step 3 – Professionally Dress.
- Step 4 - Plan Your Route.
- Step 5 - Present Yourself.
- Step 6 - Promptly Send a.
