Getting a job is time consuming and energy draining. Long hours of searching and applying are then followed by long hours of waiting for that one phone call for an interview. What type of interview you will be taking part in is essential to know, for each requires a specific response from you and each looks for different qualifications or personality traits that you may possess.

Now that you have read some tips for your interview, I have compiled the top 5 interview types, taken from a seminar I attended at school, to help you prepare.

1. Screening interviews

As the name implies, this means that the interview is to weed out unqualified or unsuitable candidates. Whether it be because of your educational background or personality, as examples, human resources usually have an idea of what to weed out or what type of person would not work. For example, it is highly unlikely that you will be hired to be a doctor without a medical background. Therefore, before the company, in this case the hospital, wastes their time, or yours, they disregard your application.

What to do? Research the qualifications asked by the company and add them to your C.V. or your resume. And, if you do not possess the qualifications, e.g. the medical background, and possess no other qualifications that would make up for this, do not waste your time and energy applying.

2. Stress interviews

Here the company wants to see how you handle stress. This is usually used when you are applying for a highly stressful job. What is the goal? To see how you deal with, or solve, the stressful situation they place you in.

One way they can test you is by making you wait a long period of time in the waiting room to see if you will lash out at the secretary or politely ask if there is any paperwork you can fill out while waiting.

Another stressful situation you may find yourself in is being bombarded with questions from your interviewer to see how you react to those in power stressing you out.

3. Testing interviews

This is quite simple, do you possess the needed qualifications of the job. Applying to a computer company as a programmer? They may ask you to code something in specific to see what you come up with. This can be done at home or on site. One important point here is that if they give you something to do on your own time and you do not get to finish the task, hand it what you have anyways! It is better than nothing, and that way you won’t have entirely wasted your time. Besides, they may be impressed with what you actually got completed and either give you a second task, or call you in!

4. Group interviews

This is usually used when you will be working with a group or if the company is mass hiring. Usually, problem solving or discussions are used to see how you work in a group, how you lead and let lead, and to see what kinds of issues are raised/solutions are discovered.

My pain tip here is to immerse yourself but at the same time encourage others to do the same. It is all about balance.

5. Panel interviews

Here you will find several interviewers asking questions and deciding whether you are a suitable candidate for the position. The biggest thing to remember here is to not only concentrate on the highest ranking interviewer but to give everyone equal attention. That is if you know who the highest ranking is. For example, if you know the CEO is there do not only “suck up” to that person and answer their questions first, or only their questions!

It is crucial to know what type of interview is used for different situations.

For example, you may not know that the long waiting time is in fact a part of the interview, or that group dynamics and interactions are being tested even before the interview formally starts. Be aware of what is going on around you and always respect everyone in the process, including the office manage, secretary and the competition.