10 Types of Interviews (and

How to Ace Them)

Interviews come in all shapes and sizes: Sometimes you're
with one interviewer, others you're with five. Maybe you'll be
asked to lunch, expected to solve a problem, or invited to a
Skype interview.

But no matter what the format, we'll give you what you need
to succeed. Over the next few weeks, we'll show you how to
nail every type of interview you might face. Check out these 10
common interviews types and what you need to know about
them, and then check in all Job Search Month for even more
advice.

1. The Traditional Interview

This is the scenario you'll face most often: You sit down with a
solo interviewer and answer a series of questions designed to
help her figure out if you're a great candidate for the job.

What You Need to Know

 How to Knock Your Next Interview Out of the Park

 Your All-in-One Interview Prep Guide
 The 10 Rules of Interview Etiquette
2. The Phone Interview
Asked for a phone interview? A call is typically a first-round
screening to see if you're a fit to come in for a full interview, so
nailing it is key. You'll want to prepare just as you would for
an in-person interview, with some key adjustments for the
phone format.

What You Need to Know

 Got a Phone Interview? Make it Awesome, Not Awkward

3. The Skype Interview

Skype video interviews take the phone-screening interview to
the next level, and they're becoming a regular part of the job
application process for many companies. From choosing the
right on-screen look to making sure all of your tech systems
are a go, you'll want to be 100% ready for your TV debut.

What You Need to Know

 Skype Hype: The Key to Acing Your Virtual Interview

Dress to Impress (Not Distract)

While you want to dress professionally (again, from head to
toe, not head to waist), don’t just pull out any old interview
outfit—take care to make sure what you’re wearing works for
video. “Certain colors, like many shades of blue—royal, navy,
sky blue—look great on video, while others like reds and hot
colors like magenta can be too bright,” says job search expert
Alison Doyle.

For the ladies: Pay particular attention to anything that might

be a distraction, like jewelry (anything too bright will come off
“sparkly like a disco ball” on screen, says Paul Bailo, a digital
marketing technology executive and author of The Essential
Digital Interview Handbook). Same with showing too much
skin—a lower-cut top may look fine in person, but when
you’re only visible from the chest up, it can seem like way too
much.

Also, as any makeup artist will tell you, what looks great in
person can be quite different than what looks great on screen.
“It’s OK to use a little more than usual, as makeup tends to
not show up as well on camera,” says Hasti Kashfia of
DotComplicated. “For those with oily skin, go for a matte
primer—for dry skin, try a radiant primer or tinted
moisturizer,” recommends celebrity makeup artist Pati
Dubroff. Then, “brighten under the eyes and spot conceal
where needed.” She also recommends a good dose of
(professional) eye makeup: “Use a deep colored eye pencil
[black or brown] and smudge at lashline, then curl lashes and
apply multiple coats of mascara.”

Master the Digital Handshake

Just like your in-person interviews, first impressions really
matter. “The first five seconds will make or break your digital
interview,” says Bailo. “It is those few seconds, when the
hiring manager sees you and you see the hiring manager that
the digital chemistry is created. That is when this person
hopefully thinks, ‘I like what I see, I want to engage in this
digital conversation.’”

The first step to creating that digital chemistry? What Bailo

calls a “digital handshake.” Think a “slow, confident,
professional, firm nod” with “a slight shoulder bend and eyes
forward—the other person should not see the top of your
head.” When you can’t physically greet the hiring manager,
this simple gesture shows that you’re excited to be there and
ready to get down to business.

From then on, focus on keeping your eyes on the camera—not

on the view from your screen. “Your eyes need to look straight
into the camera, so it appears on the other end you are looking
right at the other person,” says Bailo. His tip? “Try
downloading a photo of the hiring manager, printing it, and
making a hole in the photo to allow the camera lens to see
through. Now you can look at the photo, which makes it more
human to conduct your digital interviews.” (Just keep it small
—you still want to be able to see your screen!)

Don’t Forget Body Language

“Someone I was Skype-interviewing with was so motionless, I
thought for a while the screen was frozen,” a colleague
recently shared with me. Lesson learned: Make sure your
body language expresses that you’re engaged and, well, alive.
“As you’re communicating, lean forward,” suggests Bailo.
“This will show interest and concern and will engage your
audience. It will also convey eagerness and willingness to
listen.”

Just be careful not to overdo it. “Even more so than in an in-

person interview, avoid excessive physical movements,” says
Dubroff (think making large hand gestures and wildly
nodding or shaking your head). “You'll appear blurry to your
interviewer, and none of your facial expressions will be
visible.”

Create a “Skype Studio”

If you’re going to be doing a lot of interviewing—or really want
to make an impression at a high-stakes meeting—consider
creating a mini-studio at your place. Find a quiet corner, buy a
roll of seamless paper (Bailo suggests “professional
background paper in a nice neutral color that does not
compete with your wardrobe”), and hang it from the ceiling.
Having a clean, simple backdrop not only looks professional,
it makes sure that the interviewer focuses on you and only
you.

To perfect the look, add lighting. “Soft, natural lighting is the

way to go,” says Bailo. Try having “three lights, one to your
right, one to your left… and the third shining up at your
background. This creates a wonderful, inviting, caring
environment.”

Finally, consider investing in high-quality sound equipment.

“The essential part of the digital job interview is the camera—
get a name brand HD web camera,” says Bailo. He also
recommends upgrading your mic, which will make sure that
every word you say is heard loud and clear. “Blue makes an
outstanding product specifically for interviewing called the
Snowball—you are going to love it and sound fantastic!”

4. The Case Interview

The case interview is a more specialized format in which
you're given a business problem (“How can BigCoal Co.
double its growth?”) or a puzzle (“How many tennis balls fit in
a 747?”) to solve. While case interviews were once exclusively
the domain of aspiring consultants, they’re now popping up
everywhere from tech companies to NGOs.

What You Need to Know

 Ace the Case: 7 Steps to Cracking Your Consulting

Interview
 Secrets for Cracking the Quant Interview

5. The Puzzle Interview

Google and other highly competitive companies have been
known to ask "puzzle" questions, like, “How many people are
using Facebook in San Francisco at 2:30 PM on a Friday?”
Seems random, but your interview wants to determine how
quickly you can think on your feet, how you’ll approach a
difficult situation, and how you can make progress in the face
of a challenge.
What You Need to Know

 4 Insanely Tough Interview Questions (and How to Nail

Them)

6. The Lunch Interview

Has your potential employer suggested an interview over a
meal? That's a good sign—it usually means she wants to learn
a little more about you and how you act outside of the office.
We'll show how to highlight your strengths and
accomplishments while trying to maneuver a mouthful of
chicken Piccata.

What You Need to Know

 Let's Do Lunch: How to Prepare for an Interview Over a

Meal

7. The Group Interview

Group interviews aren't common, but you might find them for
sales roles, internships, or other positions in which the
company is hiring multiple people for the same job. How do
you catch the hiring manager's eye when you're part of the
group? It takes a little gusto and a few smart tactics.

What You Need to Know

 Simple Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd

8. The Apprentice Interview

In some industries—writing, engineering, or even sales—you
may be asked to complete an actual job task as part of the
interview. Basically, your interviewers don't want you to tell
them you can do the job, they want to see it. Don't panic: If
you go in prepared, this is your chance to shine.

What You Need to Know

 How to Nail the On-the-Job Interview

9. The Firing Squad

If you'll be reporting to several people or working with a team,
it's not uncommon to meet with multiple interviewers—all at
the same time. Sounds nice, because you only have to answer
those tough questions once, but it can also be tricky to make a
strong connection with each decision maker.

What You Need to Know

 How to Shine in Front of a Firing Squad

10. The Career Fair Interview

If you're attending career fairs as part of your job hunt, get
ready for impromptu interviews, where you'll only have 10 or
15 minutes to sell yourself to the recruiter for a chance to
come in for a full interview.

What You Need to Know

 Secrets for Selling Your Skills in Minutes