Unit
5
Conducting Job Interviews
Overview
In this Unit we will talk about job interviews both in a general way and from
the organisation’s perspective. We will make suggestions as to how the job
seeker should prepare for an interview and ask you to do some activities that
will give you practice in developing your interviewing skills.
This Unit is divided into three sessions as follows:
Session 5.1
Session 5.2
Session 5.3
Basic Interviewing Techniques
Common Interviewing Mistakes
Designing and Conducting an Effective Interview
Learning Objectives
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Define and describe various types of job interviews
2. Explain factors which can undermine the course of the interviewing
process
3. Explain how to develop a structured interview
4. Explain the ways in which both interviewers and interviewees can
improve their performance.
133
Readings
There are no extra readings for this unit
134
Session
5.1
Basic Interviewing Features
What Is an Interview?
The job interview is an activity that most working adults have experienced. At
its most basic, it is a face-to-face conversation between at least two persons,
the employer and the prospective employee. It is usually the final phase of
the selection process and provides the opportunity for both employer and
applicant to determine whether the applicant will be able to fit the organisation’s needs. For some, it is a most harrowing exercise; for others it is quite
easy. Young adults, on leaving school or any tertiary institution, must be
prepared for work, and thus interviewing becomes a must since just about
every business organisation conducts job interviews for prospective employees.
As HR practitioners, it is important for you to fully appreciate the importance
of the job interview so let us look at some definitions of the concept “interview” provided by experts in the field of HRM.
Raymond Noe et al, (1996, p. 320)...