The Sequence of Interviews

There are seven broad categories of interviews you may encounter during your interview process. Sometimes a person is hired after only one interview; others may return to a company multiple times.

Here is what you might expect:

Screening - Conducted by phone or in person, with the company's Human Resources Representative, an outside recruiter or occasionally by the Functional Hiring Manager. Some kinds of phone screening require you to respond to a recorded set of questions by pressing buttons on the telephone keypad. This is a basic interview to find out if you have the minimum qualifications for the job (CAN), and may touch on WILL and FIT issues.

Your objective: To survive it and continue in the interviewing process.

Qualifying - Conducted by the Functional Hiring Manager, your potential new manager. Primarily concentrates on WILL types of questions, although FIT and CAN are in second and third priority.

Technical - Conducted by a technical or subject matter expert who will ask questions to determine your knowledge base (CAN).

Approval - Conducted by the hiring manager's manager and focuses on WILL and FIT concerns. Once you get to this point in the interview process, you know that they're very interested in you.

Fit - You may meet with peers, or, if you are interviewing for a management position, also with employees who would report to you. Questions center around FIT issues at this point.

Psychological - Many times conducted by an outside psychologist to assess the degree of FIT (with company culture) and motivation (WILL). Best advice: be yourself.

"Blessing" - May be conducted by the division or regional manager, CEO or President, depending on the size of the company and the level of the position. This is an opportunity for this person to meet you and give his or her approval.