If you have been invited to attend an interview you have obviously written an impressive application. The interview gives you the chance to prove that you are as suitable for the job in real life as you appear on paper. It also gives an employer the opportunity to see what you are like as a person and to assess whether you will fit in with other employees.
Types of interview
Interviews come in various forms and will normally be based on the information you supplied on your application form. Examples of different interviews are:
- a question and answer session with one interviewer
- a panel interview with several people asking questions
- interviews that require you to give a short talk or presentation
- a combination of the above – presentation and questions
The purpose of the interview
An interview is a two-way process which gives you the opportunity to ‘sell’ yourself to an employer; and for the employer to ‘sell’ their company to you. After all, they want to make a good impression too.
The interview is your opportunity to convince a potential employer that you are the best person for the job. The time you spend during an interview is valuable for you to make a decision if the job and company are right for you.