In the recruitment process, the interview stage plays a crucial role in finding the best job candidates. Therefore, for successful interviews, companies must employ various appropriate methods, including determining what interview formats to use.
Yes, to find the best candidates, the interview question format must be tailored to the recruitment needs. This is because there are numerous interview question formats, and certainly not all can be applied to all positions.
Now, for those of you who are still unsure about what interview question format to use in the company’s recruitment process, below Algobash will review some of the formats complete with example questions!
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What is an Interview Formats?
The interview format refers to the structured approach used by companies to assess job candidates. These formats encompass the style and structure of the interview, as well as the types of questions to be asked.
Interview formats are undoubtedly crucial for companies to evaluate or assess the qualifications, skills, and suitability of job candidates. This way, companies can recruit the right candidates to join their teams.
Why are Interview Formats Important?
As mentioned earlier, interview formats have several benefits:
- Consistency: A structured interview format can ensure that all candidates are evaluated based on the same criteria, promoting fair and unbiased selection.
- Efficiency: A well-designed interview format can help companies assess job candidates efficiently. Moreover, companies can make decisions based on information in a short time.
- Legal Compliance: Using a standardized interview format can help companies comply with legal requirements and avoid discrimination.
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Types of Interview Formats
There are quite a few interview types that companies can apply to candidate selection. Some of them are as follows:
1. Face-to-Face Interview
The first job interview format is the face-to-face interview. This is a traditional interview method that has been used by many companies worldwide for a long time. This interview is conducted by meeting face-to-face between the candidate and the HRD or interviewer. Through this interview, HRD can assess a candidate’s interpersonal skills, professionalism, and communication skills.
Example Questions
Here are some example interview questions that can be asked in this interview format:
- “Can you describe your previous work experience and how it prepared you for the position you are applying for now?”
- “What is the greatest achievement you have ever achieved in your previous job?”
- “How do you handle conflicts that occur in the workplace?”
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2. Behavioral Interview
The second job interview format is the behavioral interview or behavior-based interview. As the name suggests, this interview format will focus on a candidate’s past behavior to predict their suitability for future positions. Candidates will be faced with several questions that explore specific situations in their previous jobs to assess their suitability for the position.
Example Questions
There are many examples of behavioral interview questions, some of which are as follows:
- “Can you provide an example of a challenging situation you have faced in your previous workplace and how you handled it?”
- “Describe a situation where you had to meet tight deadlines in a team project.”
- “Tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a major change in your previous work environment.”
3. Competency-Based Interview
The third job interview format is the competency-based interview. If the previous format focused on a candidate’s behavior, this interview format is more focused on a candidate’s competencies. Through this interview technique, HRD can evaluate a candidate’s competencies ranging from leadership skills, problem-solving, to teamwork.
Example Questions
The questions used in this interview method will be tailored to assess specific skills relevant to the job. Here are some examples:
- “Describe a situation where you demonstrated strong leadership skills.”
- “What do you do when faced with solving a complex problem?”
- “Tell us about a time when you had to work collaboratively to achieve a common goal.”
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4. Situational Interview
Apart from being based on behavior and competencies, there is also an interview method based on situations. This method is the situational interview. This interview format is used to assess a candidate’s ability to solve problems and make decisions when faced with specific situations. In practice, candidates are usually given several questions or case studies that can uncover their potential in problem-solving and decision-making.
Example Questions
Because this interview format aims to explore a candidate’s ability to handle difficult situations at work, the questions will be tailored accordingly. Here are some examples:
- “What would you do if a project you were leading suddenly faced unexpected delays?”
- “How would you handle a situation where team members consistently miss deadlines?”
- “Describe how you would manage a project with limited resources.”
5. Video Interview
Finally, there is the video interview, a format that has become popular in recent years. Typically, the video interview format is used for remote or long-distance recruitment. To carry it out, HRD will use digital platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, or Algobash.
Example Questions
Some examples of questions that can be asked during a video interview are as follows:
- “Why are you interested in this position, and in your opinion, what can help you be selected as an employee in our company?”
- “Can you provide an example of a project you have successfully managed remotely or long-distance?”
- “How do you handle technical difficulties during virtual meetings?”
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So, those are some pieces of information that Algobash can provide about job interview question formats. If you want to read more information about recruitment, don’t forget to visit the Algobash Insight blog!