Career Development and Success

Seven types of job and internship interviews: what to expect and how to prepare

October 30, 2024

What are the types of job and internship interviews and how can you prepare?

There is an array of interview types that employers use throughout their application process. Some of the most common types include:

• Phone screen
• Individual interview (or 1:1)
• Panel interview
• Group interview
• Video interview
• Pre-recorded or one-way video interview
• Technical interview

Before diving into more on specific interview types, let’s review some basic interview prep and interview tips.

How to prep for an interview

The ultimate goal of any interview is for the employer to evaluate whether you are a good fit for the position and company. The person interviewing may be a manager, recruiter, human resources employee, potential team member, or owner, and will likely ask questions to assess your experience, skillset, and knowledge.

Regardless of the type of interview, here are some tips on how to prepare:  

1. Understand the type of interview to expect

• Depending on the stage in the interview process, and the type of interview, your preparation strategy and approach may differ.  

2. Have a plan in place for logistics

• Whatever type of interview you’re preparing for, be sure to spend some time on planning for logistics. This could be making sure your phone is charged for a phone screen, ensuring you’re in a quiet place with minimal distractions, planning how you’re going to get to the interview if in-person, or even what you’re going to wear for your interview.
• All these details may seem minor, but planning for them will allow you to focus on the real task at hand – acing the interview.    

3. Practice your elevator pitch

• Many interviews start with the question, “tell me about yourself”. Since the same person will likely not be the only person to interview you each round, it’s important to be prepared to share your elevator pitch for all types and all rounds of interviews.
• This is your opportunity to frame your professional identity and career narrative.  

4. Familiarize yourself with the job description

• The more familiar you are with what the employer is looking for, the easier it will be to frame your answers to questions.
• Ultimately, be prepared to connect your qualifications to those listed in the job description. If the job description lists specific skills or knowledge, be prepared to speak about how your experience aligns with them along with specific examples that showcase your abilities.
• You should be able to answer questions like “what can you bring to this position”, “why are you the best fit for this position”, and “why should we hire you?” 

💡 Pro-Tip: You can use tools like a T-chart to help brainstorm, record, and visualize how your experiences and skills align with the position.  

5. Research the company

• Though for early rounds of interviews like a phone screen you likely won’t need to know everything about the company, it is beneficial to be familiar with the basics – mission, vision, company history, service or product, and if they’ve been in the news at all.
• At a baseline, you should be able to answer the question, “why do you want to work here,” and provide a substantive answer.
• As you get deeper into the interviewing process, it’s important to also be more familiar with the company since interview questions in later rounds typically get more specific. 

💡 Pro-Tip: Using information, you’ve gathered through your research when answering questions related to the company or questions that probe at why you want to work there, communicates your interest and seriousness about the opportunity.  This is your chance to make the company “feel special” – communicate that you understand this opportunity can’t be experienced anywhere else.  

6. Practice answering common interview questions

• The best way to prepare is to practice! We encourage you to do a mock interview if you can.
• If you don’t have time for a mock interview or would like additional practice, look at the sample questions below or search for other resources online!
• Whether you’re completing a mock interview of practicing on your own, verbalizing your practice answers out loud can help build your interviewing muscles.  

💡 Pro-Tip: Ask ChatGPT for sample questions to help you practice. For example, use a prompt like, “What are 10 common interview questions for a [insert title name] at [insert company name or industry]?” or “What are 5 common phone screen interview questions for a [insert title name] at [insert company name or industry]?” 

7. Prepare questions for the interviewer

• In every round of interviews, it’s advantageous to have at least three questions prepared to ask.
• Be sure the questions aren’t ones with answers you could easily find on their website.
• Questions are also an opportunity to showcase your knowledge about the company and reflect your interest and thoughtfulness. 

💡 Pro-Tip: Keep in mind that interviews aren’t only for employers to see if you’re a good fit for them, but it’s a chance for you to see if the employer is a good fit for you! 

Tips for job and internship interviews

• Body language matters. Be mindful of what your body language might be communicating. Try to sit straight, lean forward to show you’re engaged, try not to fidget, maintain eye contact, etc. 

• Keep interview etiquette in mind. If in person and interviewing with someone or a company in the U.S., arriving early, shaking hands with the interviewer upon introduction and when you leave, thanking them for their time, maintaining eye contact, are American norms you can expect, and that your interviewer will also likely expect. 

• ALWAYS send a thank you note. Every stage of the interview, send a thank you note within 2 days of the interview to your interviewer(s). Check out this article by The Muse for advice on how to craft your thank you note. 

• Keep an eye on your inbox and phone. If you are going through an interview process, be sure to check your email inbox and phone inbox regularly to ensure you don’t miss any communication from your potential employer. 

• Follow up after your interview. Unless given a specific date that an employer will follow up with you regarding the status of your candidacy, following up with the person you interviewed with last 2 weeks after the interview took place is appropriate for a status update. Here’s a resource for how to navigate this. 

Questions to ask during your interview

Regardless of what round the interview is, the type of interview, or who is interviewing you, it’s always a good idea to ask questions at the end of your interview if time allows. It’s important to ask thoughtful and relevant questions to communicate your professionalism, enthusiasm for the position, and can even leave a positive impression on your interviewer.

As employers ask questions to see if you’re a right fit for them, it’s also a great opportunity to see if the employer is the right fit for you.  

Sample questions to ask your interviewer 

Generally, you want to personalize your questions, build off your conversation, and be thoughtful. This is considered a part of the interview too!  

Questions about the role and team 

• What are the metrics of success for this position? What does success look like for this position? 

• What are the priorities and expectations for this position in their first 30, 60, and 90 days? 

• What are the biggest immediate challenges this position might face? 

• What do you think the greatest learning curve is for this position?  

• Can you tell me a bit about the team I’d potentially be working with?  

Questions about the company and culture 

• What do you feel is the most exciting thing about the company’s future?  

• How have you experienced the company’s values in your day-to-day work? 

• How do you believe the company’s changed over the last few years?  

• What do new employees typically find surprising after they start?  

• What do you believe is different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked before?  

Questions about growth 

• How does the company encourage professional growth?  

• What opportunities are there for professional development at the company?  

• What infrastructure exists to encourage growth for employees? 

• What learning and development opportunities will there be for this role? 

• What are the common career paths in this department?  

Closing questions 

• Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful? 

• Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications? 

• What can I expect for the next steps in the hiring process?  

Questions to avoid during a job or internship interview

In general, you want to stay away from basic questions that you can find the answers to online, salary and benefits (unless deep into the interview process), and personal questions that don’t relate to the work or employer.  

Types of job and internship interviews

Phone Screen

A phone screen interview is a brief, first-round interview that typically takes place over the phone or virtually between a candidate and a recruiter or hiring manager of the employer.  The purpose of a phone screen is to determine whether a candidate has the basic qualifications and interest to move on to the next round of interviews. 

Quick insights for phone screens

• First round interview usually conducted over the phone 

• Usually 15-30 minutes  

• Typically hosted 1:1 with a recruiter or hiring manager  

• Sometimes more information about the opportunity and the employer will be shared such as salary range, the team the position is a part of, etc.  

Tips for phone screens

• Plan your set up. Be sure your phone is charged, and you’re taking the call in a place with a clear signal. Make sure you’re taking the call in a quiet area with minimal distractions and background noise; this might mean letting those you live with know not to bother you during this time. 

• Remember, it’s called a “screening” for a reason – the point is to screen for things like foundational qualifications, interest, and salary. 

💡 Resource: If you’re curious about how to navigate the “salary expectation” questions, check out this article by the balance. 

• Set up a professional voicemail just in case.  

• Be aware of your availability during the interview in case they want to set up another interview.  

• Using headphones may help – it allows you to be hands free to take notes, and the microphone might help with sound clarity. 

Sample questions for phone screens

• Tell me about yourself.  

• Walk me through your resume.  

• How did you find this role? 

• Why do you want to work here? 

• Why are you the best fit for this position?  

• What can you bring to this role? 

• Why are you applying for this position?  

• What about this position is most exciting for you? 

• What type of opportunity are you looking for? 

• What are your goals regarding your career? 

• Tell me what you know about the role.  

• Tell me about what you know about the company. 

• What are your salary expectations?  

• Are you interviewing with other companies?  

• What other types of positions have you applied for? 

• Do you have any questions for me? 

Individual Interview 

An individual or one-on-one interview is the most common type of interview. When people think of a job interview, this is the one they usually imagine.

There may be one or more of these types of interviews that take place throughout the interview process and could be hosted by a variety of people in the hiring pipeline –  recruiter, hiring manager, prospective team member or supervisor, etc.

These interviews tend to be more in depth than a phone screening and are intended for the interviewer to gather more information about a candidate’s experience, skills, and fit for the position and employer. They are usually face-to-face virtually or in-person. 

Quick insights for individual interviews

• Can take place throughout the interview process (2^nd round, 3^rd round, final round, etc.)  

• Usually 30 minutes to 1 hour  

• Can be hosted by a variety of people in the hiring pipeline  

• Sometimes these can feel formal, with structured and standardized questions, while other times they can feel more informal, like a professional conversation 

Tips for individual interviews

• Though preparation can be like that of a phone screen such as practicing your elevator pitch, for this type of interview, it’s important to do a deeper dive when preparing for a 1-on-1 interview – becoming more familiar with the job description and how your experience and skills align, become more familiar with the employer, etc.  

• Reflect on your experiences that are most relevant to the position; have a few examples in mind you can draw from if behavioral interview questions arise.  

• Try your best to answer questions directly and professionally, but don’t be afraid to try to build rapport with your interviewer. We’re all humans!  

• Communicate engagement with your body language – whether you’re in-person or virtually, be mindful; things like leaning in and eye contact, communicate engagement in western culture. 

• When practicing interview questions, search for industry specific or role specific interview questions to practice with. For example, if you’re interviewing for a marketing internship, searching “common interview questions for marketing internship.” Another strategy could be finding interview questions specific to the qualifications or skills the job description includes. 

• Do a mock interview!  

Group Interview 

A group interview usually includes multiple candidates that are being interviewed at the same time for one or more of the same positions. Employers might choose to host a group interview to be efficient with screening candidates or see how they navigate a group setting. Most times, group interviews are a means of evaluating candidates’ interactions with others.  

Quick insights for group interviews

• Can take place throughout the interview process  

• Usually, the interviewer will provide directions on how the process will take place – they may ask everyone to answer each question, or may choose one person per question, etc.  

• Usually 2 hours or longer; in some cases, group interviews may take place over the course of a few days  

• Can be hosted by a variety of people in the hiring pipeline 

• Step forward, step back. Though it’s important to make your voice heard, it’s also important not to hog the spotlight. Be sure that if the group interview format is open, you make space for others to answer questions too.  

Tips for group interviews

• Be friendly. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and ask questions of other candidates, even if the employer hasn’t begun the interview yet.  

• Speak with purpose. Be assertive and intentional when answering questions – don’t just speak to speak.  

• Practice active listening. Try to listen to other’s answers and acknowledge or build off what has been said. If you reiterate something someone else has mentioned, say that!  

• Pay attention to body language to show you’re engaged with the group, even when you’re not talking.  

• If a thought comes to mind, instead of interrupting, jot down a quick note, and come back to it when appropriate. 

Panel Interview 

A panel interview usually involves several interviewers and one candidate. Panel interviews are used to get more in-depth information about the candidate from various perspectives and thus will typically take place in the second round and beyond.

The panel can be composed of varying roles affiliated to the open position; it could be team members, hiring manager, supervisor, staff that regularly collaborate with the position, etc. Staff that serve on the panel often have a say in who the employer ultimately hires or moves forward to future interview rounds. 

Quick insights about panel interviews

• Will typically take place in later rounds of the interview process (2^nd round and beyond) 

• Usually lasts 45 minutes to 90 minutes or longer  

• Interviewers can vary but typically are composed of people from the team the position is on, or staff that the position is expected to regularly collaborate with 

• Companies might include a panel interview in the process to save time, have consensus among the team, test candidate’s teamwork, or challenge the candidate to see how they may navigate a stressful situation 

Tips for panel interviews

• Know your audience. If you’re able, try to do a little research beforehand to learn more about those serving on your interview panel. Whether it’s through the company’s website or LinkedIn, having some context can help you connect with your interviewers.  

• Engage with panel members equally. It’s tempting to focus on the most senior people in the room, but it’s important to respond and engage with all members equally – they are likely all people you would work with regularly and ultimately all have a say in a final decision to hire you or not. Shaking all panelists’ hands, giving equal amount of eye contact with each person, inviting silent members into the conversation when appropriate are all ways to engage each panelist.  

• Be mindful of body language. As any other interview, body language can say a lot! Communicate with your body language that you’re engaged.  

• Questions in panel interviews are typically more focused on collaboration and team or company fit. 

• Be mentally prepared for follow-up questions. Each panelist likely has their own perspective, and an answer you provide might spark a follow up question from another panelist that didn’t ask the original question. Try your best to treat the interview like a conversation instead of a Q&A.  

• When asking questions at the end, either keep the questions open to the whole panel, or direct questions to specific panelists – try your best to keep it even across panelists.  

• If you’re able to get each panelist’s contact information, great! Send them all individualized follow-up thank you notes; if you’re unable to get all their contact information, at least email one of them and thank the other panelists by name. 

Video Conference Interview  

A video conference interview, sometimes called a virtual interview, or teleconference interview, is an interview that takes place over video, remotely between one candidate and one or more interviewers.

Common virtual interview platforms include Zoom, Google Hangouts, WebX, or Microsoft Teams. Video conference interviews can be used for a variety of interview stages and interview types such as individual interviews, panel interviews, or even group interviews.  

Quick insights for video interviews

• Can take place throughout the interview process (2^nd round, 3^rd round, final round, etc.)  

• Usually 30 minutes to 1 hour  

• Can be hosted by a variety of people in the hiring pipeline  

• Sometimes these can feel formal, with structured and standardized questions, while other times they can feel more informal, like a professional conversation 

• Usually, will take place on a specific platform identified by the employer such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, WebX, or Microsoft Teams 

Tips for video interviews

• Test your technology beforehand! Many of the platforms used in these types of interviews have free versions or testing capabilities. Testing can minimize technical difficulties and give you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with how to navigate the platform. Test at least 1 day before and again 15-30 minutes before your interview takes place.  

• Decide where you’re going to take the video call. Pick somewhere with good internet connection, minimal distractions and background noise, and the background behind you is tidy and appropriate.  

• Dress the part. Even though it’s virtual, it’s still important that you dress as if you were going to an in-person interview.  

• Using headphones may help – it allows you to be hands free to take notes, and the microphone might help with sound clarity. 

• Be mindful of body language – sit up straight, try not to fidget, maintain “eye contact” by looking directly into the camera lens, etc.  

• It’s okay to have notes but be mindful if you refer to them while recording and where your eyes are looking. You don’t want to seem like you’re reading something. 

• Just as you would in-person, try to build rapport. If there are opportunities to make small talk, go for it!  

Pre-Recorded (One-Way) Video Interview  

Pre-recorded or one-way video interviews do not require the interviewer and candidate to be present in-person or virtually at the same time. For this type of interview, the employer will typically send the candidate interview questions and ask that the candidate record a video of their answers to the questions and send it back to the interviewer. Sometimes companies will use specific technology for this type of interaction such as Riverside, Hireflix, myInterview, or Spark Hire.  

Quick insights for pre-recorded or one-way video interviews

• Can take place at a variety of points throughout the interview process 

• The amount of time this process takes greatly depends on the employer and their expectations 

• Companies might use the format of interviewing due to scheduling and efficiency purposes and sometimes to assess technological skills  

• Typically, you’ll have a practice round before asked to record and submit your final recorded answers, allowing you to get familiar with the platform, work out any bugs with your equipment, etc. The practice session might not actually ask you to answer an interview question, but it will show you what it’ll be like 

• Usually, you’ll have a limited amount of time to answer the questions 

Tips for pre-recorded or one-way video interviews

• If a practice session is offered, or resources are shared to help you navigate the platform being used, use it! If the practice round has a “play back” option, take a listen and see if you were loud enough, if there’s background noise, and lighting is okay.  

• In some cases, you might be allowed to review and re-record your answer if you want. If this is the case, try not to focus too much on being “perfect”. Focus on ensuring you answer the question confidently and in its entirety.  

• Try not to fidget. This can be extra distracting with this type of interview.  

• Even though this is one-way, maintain eye contact. With video, eye contact would be looking into the camera lenses (or at least close to it).  

• It’s okay to have notes but be mindful if you refer to them while recording and where your eyes are looking. You don’t want to seem like you’re reading something. 

• Even though it’s a video recording, dress the part. At least from the waist up, dress as if you’re going to an in-person interview.  

• Don’t forget to look behind you! Make sure the background is tidy and nothing unprofessional is in the camera’s line of site. 

Technical Interview  

Technical interviews are common for employers recruiting positions that require proficiency in specific hard skills. These are used to assess your technical ability for the role, including the breadth and depth of your knowledge in a given area.

Sometimes technical interviews are implemented to assess a candidate’s general problem-solving skills and ability to think under pressure. It’s a way to learn more about how someone might approach solving a problem than just getting the answer correct.

The format and the time allotted for technical interviews vary greatly depending on the opportunity and employer. Most commonly, technical interviews take one of two forms:  

• Self-directed, online, timed test: Used to assess candidates based on foundational knowledge for the role. This could be an online test or coding exercise and typically take 30-60 minutes. This usually happens towards the beginning of the interview process, and candidates are given a due date to complete the assessment.  

• On-site interview: An on-site technical interview might include answering questions related to knowledge about a particular topic, process, or product with an interviewer. Candidates might be asked to outline a solution to a problem on a whiteboard or make a presentation to a team. There could be multiple rounds of on-site interviews with different teams depending on the position. The amount of time this takes greatly depends on the position and employer.  

Quick insights for technical interviews

• Can take place at a variety of points throughout the interview process 

• The amount of time this process takes greatly depends on the employer and the type of technical interview, but they often take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours 

• Usually, you’ll have a limited amount of time to answer the questions whether it’s online or on-site 

Tips for technical interviews

• If you’re asked to solve a problem or outline your solution, it’s important to talk through your thought process as you go – remember, one of the primary reasons employers conduct technical interviews is to better understand how you think, approach problems, etc. 

• Don’t rush. It’s easy to get caught up in nerves and want to answer as quickly as possible, but it’s okay to slow down, take a beat, and think through the question first.  

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – if you need clarity, ask for it!  

• Don’t bend the truth if you don’t know how to use or do something, but where possible, use opportunities to call attention to related or similar tools / programs / processes that you do know. 

• Carefully review the job description and be prepared for questions related to required qualifications and skills.  

• Research the company and understand the types of problems they solve, what products or service they provide – this could provide some insight into what they might ask. 

• Watch tutorials!  

• Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions during the technical interview as well. 

• Leverage resources online – LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, codepath, HackerRank, Hacker U, Just Code, LeetCode, DataQuest 

Sample questions for technical interviews

Though technical interview questions can vary greatly based on the position and company, there are usually a few primary areas that the questions focus on to showcase your problem-solving skills – tools, process or experience, and hypothetical situations.  

Questions about tools might be asked so the interviewer can know more about which software, programs, and tools you know how to use. 

Questions about a process might be asked so the interview can learn more about the way you go about your work.  

Questions about situations are typically asked so the interviewer can better understand how you solve problems and think critically about specific related functions of the role.  

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