Excel on Your Interview Performance

Interview Preparation

As there are many different types of interviews you may encounter during the hiring process, JobTestPrep has provided you with information about each.

Phone Interview

Just as it sounds, phone interviews are interviews via telephone. This type of interview typically lasts between 10–30 minutes, and you are asked a range of questions, such as about your availability, salary requirements, experience, why you want to work for "X" company, and what you know about the position's duties and responsibilities, etc. If you pass the phone interview, you will then be asked to either complete a video interview or meet for a formal in-person interview. For more information about this type of interview, please see the dedicated phone interviews page, which contains tips and sample questions to give you a deeper understanding.

Skype Interview

Skype interviews are just as they sound—interviews held over Skype. These types of interviews are utilized by companies with no "brick and mortar" locations, those hiring candidates abroad, or those looking to cut down on resources. Although seemingly easier than an in-person interview, as you can interview from the comfort of your own home, Skype interviews can be quite tricky and require practice as there are unique aspects to consider and keep in mind. For more information about these interviews, please see the dedicated Skype interviews page, which contains tips and sample questions to give you a deeper understanding.

Coding Interview

In a coding interview, you will be given a set of questions/problems. The interview can be online or onsite. In most cases, you will have to use a whiteboard or Google Docs, and you will have to write code live, and it is better to prepare in advance. Most coding interviews will last between 30-40 minutes. The good news is that you can prepare for the coding interviews, and we recommend you to read our Google Software Engineer Interview guide.

Case Interview

Case interviews (like the BCG case interview) start out with interviewers posing a question, challenge, or situation that you are expected to solve. To do so, you are given general background information about a situation, from which you are expected to ask questions that will help you either understand the issue (by collecting more information) or solve the problem. Sometimes case interviews can be given both individually or in group exercises, but regardless of team size, interviewers are assessing the same things—numerical and verbal reasoning skills, communication and presentation skills, and overall business acumen and professional awareness. For more information about this type of interview, please see the dedicated case interviews page, which contains tips and sample questions to give you a deeper understanding.

Puzzle Interview

Some companies, such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, pose challenging puzzles and riddles as part of their interviews in order to assess a candidate's cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. These puzzles demand that candidates think outside the box while showcasing their creativity. Additionally, the puzzles are typically not work-related and do not require prior knowledge about a particular topic. An example of a puzzle interview question is the following: "How many ties are sold in New York City in a day?"

Lunch Interview

Just as it sounds, lunch interviews are interviews held over lunch (or other meals). This interview type is growing more in popularity due to busier schedules (for interviewers and management), the casualness tied to its name, and because some interviewers are interested in not only basic and typical interview questions and answers but, rather, really want to get to know the person they are hiring. This method allows interviewers to delve more into your background, qualifications, and personality, all while in a relaxed atmosphere to help put you at ease.

Read more on our behavioral interview page.

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