1. Introduction/breaking the ice - The interviewer and candidate establish rapport with each other to create a relaxed atmosphere for the interview.
2. Asking questions/verifying information - The interviewer asks the candidate questions to learn and assess skills and qualifications and to discover the candidate's personal qualities.
3. Answering candidate's questions/promoting the organization - The interviewer answers the candidate's questions about the position and organization to clarify any information not answered in the candidate's research, and provides information to help the candidate assess his or her interest in the position.
4. Closing the interview - The interviewer explains the decision-making process and what will happen next, and requests any other materials needed (i.e. transcripts, etc.). Candidate restates interest in the position and thanks the interviewer for the opportunity to interview. Set parameters for the next contact. Candidate should find out what the next step is and/or when to expect to hear from the organization.
5. Decision-making/recording of information - The interviewer completes an evaluation form assessing the candidate's suitability for the position. The candidate writes down comments about the interview to remember what happened to better evaluate his or her performance and further interest in the organization.

There are several interview formats an employer may use depending upon their approach to interviewing. You should be familiar with the different formats so that you can be prepared for various interview situations.

Visit our Interview Questions page for more information on how to answer and ask questions in each of these situations.

• Used primarily to determine if the candidate possesses the required skills and qualifications and to verify the factual content of his or her background.
• Usually brief, typically 1/2 hour.
• May be conducted on campus (in the University Career Center Interview Center), on-site at the company location, or by phone. (See additional information on phone interviews below.)
• The interviewer, who is often a recruiter or human resources representative, may use an outline to ask specific questions of each candidate.

• You may be interviewed by one person, by one person with others in the room, or by many people via a conference call.
• If possible, contact the organization in advance and get the names of the interviewers.
• Be sure to write down each person’s name and title so that you can refer to it later for your thank you letter.
• Even though the interviewers can't see you, it's important to dress up for a phone interview.  Not only does dressing professionally put you in an interview frame of mind, but there is always a chance that the interviewer will ask at the last minute to switch to another medium such as Skype.
• Take advantage of the fact that you can have the company’s website and your notes in front of you during the interview.
• Need a room for your phone interview? Request space in our Interview Center. 

• With many companies now conducting interviews using video-calling programs and platforms (such as Zoom, WebEx, Google Meet, etc.), it's important to be prepared for this type of interview.
• It is very important to practice conducting a video interview before the real thing. This not only gives you a chance to assess your interview performance, but also to catch any issues with sound, lighting, or the background of your video. We offer JMU students free access to Big Interview, an online program that allows you to record yourself answering common interview questions from almost any industry and gives you the chance to review your video, or even send it to others for feedback.
• Need a room for your virtual interview? Request space in our Interview Center 

• Conducted at the organization site, allowing you to see the physical surroundings.
• On-site interviews may last all day, giving you the opportunity to see what the organization is like.
• This interview is more in-depth than a screening interview because you are being considered as a serious candidate.
• You may meet with different people who will have input into the hiring decision.
• The interview itself could be with one person or with several. Board or panel interviews (in which multiple people ask you questions) are common in some fields and with some graduate school interviews. With panel interviews it’s important to establish rapport with each member of the group. If possible, reply to individuals by name, and make eye contact with everyone when you respond to questions.
• Many organizations will pose behavioral interview questions to obtain information about how you might behave in given work situations based on past performance in similar situations.
• In some settings you may also be asked questions that are case studies so that an employer can understand your thought process. These questions would provide you with a dilemma or situation that you may encounter in this type of job and ask you to respond.