Typical interview format

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Career Services Building (0128)
Corner of Washington Street & West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
phone 540-231-6241 fax 540-231-3293 www.career.vt.edu

Career Services is for all students: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior,
and graduate level, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
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JOB SEARCH TOOLS & SKILLS:

Resumes and vitae

Cover letters & other letters

E-mail

Telephone

References

Researching employers

FINDING JOBS & EMPLOYERS:

How VT grads did it

Who hired VT grads

How to start your job search

Pros & cons of ways to job-hunt

Hokies4Hire & the On-Campus Interviewing Program

Job listing web sites

On-line job search advice & privacy protection

MEETING EMPLOYERS:

Handshakes

Career fairs / job fairs

Employer info sessions

Interviewing

Interview attire

Business casual attire

Dining etiquette

DECIDING ON A JOB OFFER:

Salary, benefits, negotiating

Responding to job offers

Acknowledging a job offer

SPECIAL INTERESTS:

International students

Students with disabilities

LGBT students

Graduate students

Typical interview format
On this page:
	Differences
	Typical stages

Differences
	Because each interviewer is different, there are many types of interviews. Some interviewers are skilled at interviewing; others are not. Some are talkative; others let you do most of the talking. Most interviews, however, will range from open-ended, in which the interviewer asks questions and lets you do most of the talking, to the highly structured, in which the interviewer asks many specific questions following a planned format. Many interviews will fall between these extremes; you should be prepared for any style. The following are four basic stages that can occur in a typical interview:

Typical stages of the interview
1.	Introductory stage
	The interviewer will establish rapport and create a relaxed, though businesslike, atmosphere. This is where the interviewer gets the very important first impression of you.

2.	Review of your background and interests
	This usually takes the form of "what," "why," "where," and "when" types of questions. Focus on what you are like, and what you have accomplished, your academic and work background, and your goals. One of the interviewer's objectives is to see if your qualifications match your declared work interests. Give concise but thorough responses to questions.

3.	Matching begins
	Assuming you have the necessary qualifications, the interviewer will begin the process of determining whether the employer's job opening(s) match your interests and qualifications. If there seems to be a match, the interviewer will probably explain job details to see how interested you are in the position.

4.	Conclusion
	In this stage, the interviewer should explain what the next steps are in the hiring process. Be sure you understand them. Promptly provide any additional information requested. There should be ample opportunity for you at this point to ask any questions you have.

Also see:
	Interview attire
	Sample questions
	Sample questions for teaching candidates
	Behavioral interviewing
	Interview DOs & DON'Ts
	Researching employers — why and how
	Questions to ask the employer
	Responding to salary questions
	On-site interviews
	Dining Etiquette
	Interview expenses
	After your interviews / follow up / thank-you letters
	The Mock Interview Program