Guide for applicants

You have been invited to a job interview and would now like to know what to expect? Then you've come to the right place! This interview guide is designed to help you navigate the world of job interviews.

Interview types

Advancing digitalization has made it possible for companies to use different types of job interviews. We will now introduce you to the best-known three types.

Personal conversation

The personal interview is exactly what comes to mind first when we think of job interviews: on-site at the company's office. In addition to the applicant, one or two other participants are present here. These are usually from human resources
and the department in which you have applied.
The personal interview usually lasts 45 - 60 minutes.
A special case of a personal interview is the group interview. Here, several interested parties are present who all want the same job. You are therefore in an interview together with your fellow applicants. In such situations, show yourself to be self-confident and a team player, but not competitive.

Video interview

Now that we are all home office professionals, the video interview has become more and more established. Basically, it's 1 to 1 like a face-to-face interview, except that it takes place from home and via the screen.
Many companies now rely on video conferencing as an initial interview because it not only saves time, but also travel costs. If you are invited to a video interview, you need to give it as much weight as you would a face-to-face interview.
For digital interviews, make sure you are in a quiet place with good internet. Your background should also be neat and not too distracting. A white wall with a couple of plants is perfect. Last but not least, you need good lighting conditions.
There is also a special case here: the time-shifted video interview. Comparable to a ping-pong game, it's your turn and the recruiter's turn with short video sequences. Your answers are recorded and then evaluated.

Telephone interview

Telephone interviews are also becoming increasingly popular - not least due to the current pandemic. As a preliminary stage of job interviews, it serves as an initial sniffing out and pre-selection for both parties. Thanks to short telephone calls, companies can respond to all interesting applications and thus get to know the people behind them. Since telephone interviews usually last only 15 - 30 minutes, recruiters can pay attention to many more candidates than in 60-minute (video) interviews.
The special thing about a telephone interview is, of course, that your interviewer cannot see you and the expression of your voice therefore takes on much more weight.

The preparation 

Preparation is half the battle. No matter what kind of job interview you have coming up, thorough preparation is a must. You can use this short checklist for structured preparation.

Analyze job posting

Go through the job ad again and become aware of what exactly your potential employer is looking for. Filter out important key points and find a way to mention them again in the interview and show why you of all people are perfect for the job.

Fill knowledge gaps about the company

How well do you already know the company? Should the questions "What do you know about our company?" come up, an answer with a short explanation about your knowledge is definitely more impressive than a "I don't know anything yet".
To make sure this doesn't happen to you, you can thoroughly read through the company's website. However, review sites like Kununu are also a good place to start. Look for data about the products/services, reach, industry, company and team size, and values and mission.

Answers to standard questions

Certain questions you will encounter in every job interview. Especially if you are nervous about interviews, preparing for these questions can help you a lot. Prepare answers on topics about your strengths/weaknesses, career, skills and generally about yourself.
But be careful: What you say should not sound as if you have learned it by heart. Because then personnel officers could quickly switch to so-called stress questions. These are unusual questions that require your spontaneous answers.

Consider your own questions

You have the opportunity to ask your own questions in every interview. You should also take advantage of this opportunity every time. On the one hand, it shows your interest in the company and, on the other hand, your preparation.
We are all always interested in the salary and benefits, that is understandable. However, it is advisable if this is not your first question. Instead, ask first about the exact duties / responsibilities of this position or why this position is open.

Preparations the night before

To avoid stress before the interview, you can prepare your clothes the night before and iron them if necessary. If it's a face-to-face interview, you can also get directions and pack your bag.

Additional for video interviews

1. Check your internet connection
2. Clean up your desk
3. Make sure the background is calm
4. Check that your microphone works as well as the camera
5. Can your computer run the meeting program?

Additional for telephone interviews

1. Charge your cell phone battery before the call
2. Reduce all background noise
3. Since you will not be seen when you are on the phone, you can have your notes ready
4. Find a quiet place with good cell phone network

The interview process

Job interviews, no matter what kind, are usually structured as follows:

1. Greeting: Greeting and introduction of all participants, short small talk about the condition, the arrival and beverage request of the competitor.
2. Introduction of company and interviewer: description of the job, the company and your counterpart
3. Self-presentation: Personal introduction of yourself with successes/milestones
4. Questions: To the applicant but also to the company
5. Conclusion: Information on further procedure, farewell

Of course, the sequence of these phases varies by employer.

The follow-up

With a little distance, you may notice something else that you overlooked in the stress during the interview. That's why the upcoming follow-up after the interview is so important. Think about how the interview went, whether your preparations were sufficient and what your impression of the company is.

Closing words

You would like to finally be invited to a job interview again? Then work with us! As headhunter specialists in the fields of construction and real estate, engineering and manufacturing, and digitalization, we will help you with your job search and bring you closer to your dream job. We look forward to hearing from you!