Page 74 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 3: Interview Skills

Problem Interview Notes

A problem interview is a meeting with a problem employee. An employee whose performance
or behaviour is unsatisfactory in spite of warning represents a problem. An interview is more
likely to suggest a solution than warnings and notices.
The reason for the employee’s poor performance can be found out in a face-to-face talk; it may
be domestic problems, ill health, lack of training or dissatisfaction with the job, failure to adjust
to the environment, etc. Many organizations have facilities for counselling staff, the employee
may be offered a session with the counselor. If the employee’s behaviour is unsatisfactory, the
interview can be used for giving a clear understanding of what is expected, and what will be the
consequences of unacceptable conduct.

Group Interview

In a group interview, several job candidates are interviewed at once. The interviewer or
interviewers are trying to separate the leaders from the followers. In any group, there is a
natural process that takes place where the group stratifies into leaders and followers. The
interviewer may also be trying to find out if you are a team player. The type of personality the
employer is looking for determines the outcome of this interview. There is nothing more to do
than act naturally. Acting like a leader if you are not one may put you into a job for which you
are not appropriate.

Screening Interview

Your first interview with a particular employer will often be the screening interview. This is
usually an interview with someone in person or on the telephone. He/she will have a copy of
your resume in hand and will try to verify the information on it. The human resources
representatives will want to find out if you meet the minimum qualifications for the job and, if
you do, will be passed on to the next step.

Walk-in-Interview

When a company is urgently in need of employees, it may conduct walk-in-interviews. Normally
in pharmacy companies, these interviews are very common. The applicants have to come and
attend the interviews in a hotel or some specified place in big towns at a very short notice. When
a company is urgently in need of filling the vacancies, they prefer walk-in-interviews. Those
who meet the minimum requirements are allowed to appear for interview. Not much scrutiny
of applications takes place in this type of interviews.

Mock Interview

For prospective job seekers, sometimes imaginary interviews are organized. This is very popular
in coaching schools and business schools. Before appearing for the final interviews, business
schools may prepare their students on how to face the real interviews during the visit of the
companies in the campus.

Telephone Interviews

It takes place if a recruiter wishes to dwindle down the number of prospective candidates before
deciding on a shortlist for face-to-face interviews. It also takes place if a job applicant is a
significant distance away from the premises of the hiring company such as abroad or in another
state.

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