Job interview

What is a job interview?

A job interview is the personnel selection stage in which one person (the interviewer) analyzes another (the candidate) to see if their profile matches the position offered.

The job interview allows study aspects of the candidate that are neither measurable nor observable through other techniques. This is a flexible tool, according to the time and the number of people that can be interviewed per day.

They are usually expensive since its process involves the realization and analysis of previous information, the structuring of the questions, the publication and dissemination of the vacant position in different media, the meetings with the candidates, their evaluation, etc.

Types of job interview

There are different interview formats:

• Directed, direct or formalized interview: in this type of interview, the person asking the questions directs the topic and the possible answers, preventing the candidate from wandering too much in his answers. It is used as the first filter in the recruitment process.
• Open or informal interview: its objective is to know the expectations and points of view of the applicant about the company, taking into account their work and personal experience. In this format, non-verbal communication is very important, what the candidate says through their gestures and movements.
• Semi-directed interview: the interviewer asks the candidate specific questions, leaving some open so that they can elaborate on their answers freely and spontaneously. It is the most widely used type of interview, because it provides a lot of information about the applicant's personality, in addition to the academic or technical training required for the position.
• Group interview: in this format 2 or more people are summoned to the job interview. The objective is to obtain information about the candidates regarding their capacity for relationship and group behavior.

Examples of questions in job interviews

Here are some of the most common questions during a job interview:

• Academic and professional training:
  • Why did you decide to study economics, law, engineering, etc.?
  • What subjects of the career did you like the most and why?
  • What are the most important factors you are looking for in this career opportunity?
  • Why did you drop out of school?
• Work experience:
  • Why are you leaving your current job?
  • How did you start working at the previous company?
  • What was your least favorite job and why?
• Company where you apply for the position:
  • What do you know about our company?
  • Why did you decide to run for this position?
  • Would you be willing to move to live in another city or country? And to travel frequently?
  • What is your intended compensation?
• Personality:
  • What do you feel you can contribute to the company?
  • Could you tell us about a situation in which you found yourself faced with a challenge and how did you overcome it?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • What do you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?