Running head: INTERVIEWING PROCESS

Interviewing Process

Madelyn Ochoa and Desiree Lawson

International College of the Cayman Islands

BE-300: Comm. in Business and Report Writing

Instructor: Ms. Melissa Comparin

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The most critical part of the interviewing process is the actual interview. Interviews are

dialogue between two parties, each with their objectives (University of Notre Dame, n.d.).

Likewise, it is an advantage opportunity for the applicant (you) and the employer to get to know

each other. The interview process in business helps a manager, supervisor, human resources

director or others, to decide whether a candidate is suitable for a job. During the interview, the

interviewer can find out more about candidates' skills, knowledge, experience, and personal

attributes. They can also get an idea of how well the interviewee will fit into the organization

environment.

According to Down (n.d.), most people would not accept a marriage proposal from

someone they had never met, even if that person looked great on paper. A job offer is also a

potentially life-altering event that needs careful deliberation. Persons who are getting married

are often nervous before the ceremony. Contrary to what an individual may have heard,

interviewers do not want to intentionally ask a person difficult questions just to see the individual

make a mistake (University Career Services, n.d.).

The goal of this paper is to describe the typical sequence of job interviews, the major

types of interviews, interview media that supervisors or Human Resources directors could use,

reemployment testing and background checks that employers use, and what employers look for

during an interview, examples will be included. Next, to explain the three stages of the

employment interviews, and how to prepare for an interview. Also, will discuss and explain the

most common employment messages that follow an interview and when it would use each of

them. Lastly, will provide some recommendations that we think would be valuable for someone

who is getting prepared for an interview.

The typical sequence of job interviews

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To understand the interviewing process one must first understand the usual sequence of

interviews that an employer will take. These sequences are essential as they will inform you as

the interviewee of your potential position in the beginning stages of the interview process.

Before the right applicant is selected, an employer will interview candidates multiple times

before deciding to make a job offer. Depending on the company, the process usually will go on

for many weeks or months. Employers start the interviewing process with the screening stage,

then moves onto the selection stage, and lastly, the final stage.

In the screening stage, employers will filter out applicants who are unqualified for the

position. The screening stage is also known as the primary stage (Monster, 2016). At this stage,

the session time is limited, so keep your answers brief, giving a couple of the main focuses that

separate you from alternate competitors. Make sure to rate yourself as far as particular aptitudes

or information, answer open finished inquiries and react to an identity overview or abilities

evaluation. Have different duplicates of your resume and sort out some other materials you are

bringing with you. Above all, don't be late. Give yourself an additional 20 minutes and be aware

of potential movement (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

The next step is the selection stage. Amid these sorts of meetings, show apparent

fascination in the occupation, relate your aptitudes and experience to the association's needs,

listen mindfully and ask discreet inquiries that show you've done your examination. The goal of

the business here is to perceive how you act vis-à-vis. Your primary objective in the selection

stage is to amaze the interviewer with your insight and with the way that you talk about your

experience and accomplishments. Part of this session might include noting behavioral inquiries

successfully. Stay away from negative proclamations regardless of the possibility that you are
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asked some negative degree question, dependably depict yourself in a positive light and never

speak ill about a previous employer or a current employer (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

The selection stage is the final stage in the interviewing process. It is at this stage that the

employer may decide to offer you the job, however before doing this, you should make sure to

prepare your key references in advance because the potential employer may choose to check

your references before making the employment offer (Bovee and Thill, 2018). Be sure to avoid

distractions, which means turning off your cell phone.

The major Type of Interviews

The major types of interviews are the structured interviews, unstructured interviews,

panel interviews and group interviews. A brief explanation of each interview is listed in the

following paragraphs. A structured interview is an interview that could be held by an interviewer

or a computer program. Structured questions asked of each candidate. Employers can then

quickly identify candidates who do not meet the necessary job criteria; it also allows the

interview team to compare and contrast the answers to the interview as all the candidates had the

same questions (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

The unstructured interview also referred to as the open-ended interview, is where the

interviewer will ask the candidate questions based on the answers and questions of the candidate.

Even though this interview may feel like a conversation, it is essential that you remain

professional at all times and remain focused (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

The panel interview is when a candidate will meet several interviewers at one time. This

interview style is intimidating as there will be different levels of management who will all have

different prospectives. As a candidate, you must try to make a connection with all the
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interviewers, and be careful when answering questions so that your answer can suit the

interviewer’s wants and needs (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

Lastly, a group interview is an interview where one or more interviewers meet with a

group of candidates at the same time. The principal purpose of this type of interview is to see

how candidates interact with each other. Be sure to treat your fellow candidates with respect.

Group panel interviews can be a little tricky as you will try to stand out from the other candidates

while being supportive (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

Interview Media

There is various media type used by interviewers to interview including, telephone or

video interview. When waiting for an interview, you can expect to talk through a variety of

media such as telephone, email and instant messaging, virtual online systems, and video

conferencing.

A telephone interview can be conducted in a situation where the applicant is not nearby

or for an underlying pre-screening call to check whether they need to welcome you in for an in-

individual meeting. The questions will concentrate on your general abilities and skills. The

positive thing about telephone meetings is that they are snappier and more advantageous for both

you and the questioner than orchestrating an introductory session up close and personal. To do

well in a telephone interview, make sure to research and plan your phone meeting. Ensure you

discover as much data as you can about your spotter, read the set of working responsibilities

precisely and consider how you coordinate the determination criteria. Noting the telephone is

vital. Make sure to say "Hello" or "Goodbye" and Mr., on the other hand, Mrs. It is fine to be
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energized and excited in this sort of meeting yet don't be overfamiliar and don't begin visiting as

though you were talking to a companion (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

Video meetings are the most current pattern, particularly for school graduates. Video

interviews help in the selection process, as representatives and associations can channel

applicants at an early stage, but since they're so diverse, they can bring about intimidation among

graduate occupation seekers. As an initial step to doing well in this sort of meeting, consider the

impression your Skype name will make, as the interviewer may not take you seriously if your

Skype name is jokey or excessively casual. Another tip is to avoid taking over in your interview,

especially if there's a slight delay between you and the interviewer (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

Pre-Employment Testing

To improve the predictability of the selection process, many employers now conduct a

variety of pre-employment evaluations and investigations. The tests are the integrity test,

personality test, cognitive test, language proficiency, job knowledge and job skills, and substance

test (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

Integrity tests evaluate dispositions and encounters identified with a man's genuineness,

constancy dependability, and star social conduct. The upsides of this sort of evaluation are that it

can diminish business costs by recognizing people who are more averse to be missing or take

part in other counterproductive conduct.

Personality tests are exams that are designed to gauge aspects such as attitudes toward

work, interests, managerial potential, dependability, commitment, and motivations. Secondly,

cognitive tests are tests that measure a variety of attributes involved in analyzing, using and

remembering information. Tests involved are reading comprehension, math, problem-solving,

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and decision making. Language proficiency tests that ask you to take a reading or writing test to

see if you can understand the language of the position. Job knowledge and job skills are the

assessments that measure if you are knowledgeable and have the right skills to succeed in the

job. Lastly, a substance test is when the employer administers a drug and or alcohol test.

What Employers use as background checks

Employers use some information for background checks. They will review your credit

history to see if you are a responsible person who pays your bills on time each month. Checking

to see if you have a criminal history is also a useful tool. Verifying your education, and they will

conduct an online search for you. So be sure that your social media accounts do not have any

defamatory language or scenes.

What Employers Look For in An Interview

Employers want to know who you are personally. They know who you are per-say by

reading your resume, but they want to know the real person behind the resume. They want to see

if you can handle the position as well as the responsibilities that come along with the job, and

lastly, they want to see if you will be a good fit for the organization. Employers also look at your

personality, how you present yourself and how you speak and keep the conversation going.

Three stages of interviews

The three stages of interviews are the warm-up, the question and answer session, and the

close. The warm-up phase is the stage where you shake hands and wait to ask to be seated.

Although you may feel anxious and excited about the interview, do not start the interview

discussion, let the interviewer start the discussion. Bear in mind that in the first twenty seconds

of an interview, the interviewer already makes up their mind in hiring you.

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The next stage is the questions and answers session. Listen to the interviewer and ask

questions, and be aware of potential unlawful items. You will be asked about your qualification

so be prepared to speak about them and discuss some main points in your resume. You must

know everything about your resume. The close if done gracefully, and this is the time to ask any

questions that you could not ask earlier in the interview. Express your thanks for the

opportunity.

Interview Process

Before an interview, it is importing to research the employer. This is the best way to

stand out from your competitors in the hiring process. By investigating your potential employer,

you’ll discover details about the employer that will better prepare you for an interview. Bovee

and Thill (2018) stated that there are five steps during the interview process. The first step of the

interview process is learning about the company and its interviewers. According to Huhman

(2014). Before an interview, be sure to be knowledgeable about the company latest news and

updates. Most companies have a page on their website dedicated to press releases and events;

this is a useful source for you to find out information regarding the company’s latest news and

updates.

On the other hand, finding out who the actual interviewer will be is an advantage.

Knowing the interviewer beforehand will give you a better chance of a connection with them and

also have a meaningful conversation. Finding out who the interviewer is will take a little

investigation, but it will be significant to your interview. First, try locating the person’s name

from the email you received about the interview. If you can’t find any information, reply to the

email politely requesting the name of the person who’ll interview you. Once you acquire the

interviewer’s name, do some research on LinkedIn and Twitter; This will help you learn about
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the interviewer’s background, their position within the company, and even some common

interests you both share (Huhman, 2014).

Second, think ahead about questions. Read through some common interview questions on

the websites or books and try to answer them on your own. Common interview questions are for

example; tell me how you worked effectively under pressure? How do you handle a challenge?

Tell us about a situation where you didn't have enough work to do? Have you ever made a

mistake? How did you handle it? What is your weakness? Review as many interview questions

as you can.

Third, boosting your confidence. Bolter your confidence by focusing on your strengths

and preparing thoroughly. Fourth, polish your interviewing style by overstressing to give the

interviewer the best impression and good judgment. For example, you present a professional

with businesslike clothing and good manner. Lastly, arrive on time. When you arrive, try to

organize on the table your notebook, pen, copies of your resume, a summary of what you have

learned about the organization, and the list of questions you want to ask.

Following up after the interview

Even though it may seem like a lot of work, it is essential to follow up after each step in

the interview process. The most important thing to do is to follow up and repeat your interest in

the job and to thank the interviewer for their time meeting with you (Doyle, 2018). Email is

usually the acceptable method for follow-up messages unless the interviewer has asked you to

use other media.

Messages of inquiry are another way to continue being in contact with your interviewer.

If the interviewer has not gotten back to you by the promised date, write a brief message of
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inquiry. The most critical step on the messages of inquiry is to use the direct approach such as

the main idea, necessary details, and specific request. Request for a time extension. It is a good

option if you receive a job offer while other interviews are still pending, you can request an

extension of time to decide about the offer as well. It is important to explain why you need more

time and express continued interest in the company. In close, promise a quick decision if your

request is denied and ask for a confirmation if your request is granted.

Third, letter of acceptance. Should you receive a job offer and decide to take it, prepare a

response with a message accepting the job. A job acceptance letter is a critical step that indicates

that you've accepted the offer as presented to you (Doyle, 2018). Send the letter of acceptance

within five days of receiving the offer. Let them know clearly that you will accept the offer, be

sure that is the ideal job that you wish, and confirm vital details such as salary and start date.

Letters Declining a Job Offer

At this point, you know that the job offer it is not for you. Maybe it’s because you got a

better offer from somewhere else, or perhaps the pay they’re offering isn’t close to what you

initially asked for. Whatever the reason is, you need to let them know right away. Efficient is

ideal in avoiding being rude or burning any bridges you might want to cross in the future. Thank

the people who interviewed you with a phone call or email. It’s also nice to send a very simple

thank you note after the fact as well. Let them know you appreciate them considering you and

taking the time to sit down and chat with you (Allan, 2017). Allan (2017) recommends that once

you let them know over the phone, follow up with a written confirmation of your decision so

they have it in their records. Write the declining job letter by using the model for negative

messages, open a warm and appreciation note and then explain why you are refusing the offer.

End the declining letter with a sincere message with a positive note.
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Lastly, letter of resignation. Doyle, (2018) explained that a resignation letter is a short

letter advising your present employer that you are leaving your job. THis type of letter can help

you in maintaining a positive relationship with your old employer by leaving with a strong and

positive final impression. It also paves the way for you to move on.

A resignation letter is to announce to human resources, superiors, and co-workers your

intent to leave your current position. It makes sense to take the time to write a polished and

professional resignation letter, as there may be a time when you will need a reference letter from

your previous employer.

Your resignation letter is the official notice that you're terminating your employment with

the company. Likewise, there are several tips to include in the letter of resignation. To maintain a

positive and graceful exit, send the letter of resignation to your current employer as soon as

possible. Also, begin with an appreciative buffer, then in the middle section, state your reasons

for leaving and state you are resigning. Close the letter cordially (Bovee and Thill, 2018).

In conclusion, interviewing process can be stressful for some individuals who does not

feel prepared for an interview. However, there are solutions to better prepare you for an

interview. The job interview recommendations include dress to impress. Make sure your clothes

are neat, ironed and professional. Make eye contact, and begin with a strong handshake. This

will signal your confidence when you meet your interviewer for the first time. Know your

resume, in particular, the experience that is most relevant to the role that you are interviewing

for. Breathe and be calm during the interview. If you are very nervous, have a deep breath in

silence and stay positive. Do your research of the company and interviewer. Know well the

organization you are interested and search for the interviewer name and occupation. Be prepared

to market yourself. It is important to be yourself and to be honest.

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Also, before the interview practice a lot with a friend or a family member by asking and

answering questions. Listen to questions, ask to repeat if necessary. It is nothing wrong to ask for

a repetition of a question again. Do not overdo it either. Bring a note pad to write down

questions you feel might be of importance. Remember, it is just as important for the interviewer

to sell the benefits of working at their business, as it is for you to impress your next potential

employer.

Furthermore, be aware of the red flag of not to do during the day of the interview. Never

turn up late for an interview. If for some reason on the day it's unavoidable, call ahead to let

your interviewer know your expected time of arrival. Smoke before your interview. Whilst a

quick cigarette might seem like a good idea to calm your nerves, the smell will be noticeable and

unpleasant for your interviewer. Volunteer your weaknesses. Whilst honesty is always the best

policy, there is no need to volunteer your shortfalls unless asked directly. Criticize your current

or previous employer. Doing so could give your interviewer the impression you're difficult to

work with.
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https://lifehacker.com/how-to-decline-a-job-offer-respectfully-1801859068

Bovee, C. L., & Thill, J. V. (2018). Business Communication Today (14 Edition ed.).

Dowd, M. (2018, March 13). The Value or Importance of a Job Interview. Retrieved from

http://work.chron.com/value- Doyle, A. (2018, March 21). Tips for Writing a Letter of

Resignation with Samples. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/resignation-

letter-samples-and-writing-tips-2063051http://work.chron.com/value-

Doyle, A. (2018, March 21). Tips for Writing a Letter of Resignation with Samples. Retrieved

from https://www.thebalance.com/resignation-letter-samples-and-writing-tips-2063051

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job-interview-1660.html

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