Preparing for the job interview

The situation during the interview

In smaller companies, the principal/managing director usually conducts the job interview. In larger companies, the human resource department and the specific department concerning the job vacancy are usually involved. In such cases, it is possible that the head of human resources and the head of the specific department will take turns talking with you. In other cases, two interviews are arranged, often on completely different days with quite some time between. It is also possible that other company representatives might talk to you, for example a member of the employees’ council.
The first step of an interview with the head of human resources or his/her deputy is to clarify whether, generally speaking, your qualifications and personality enable you to be taken into consideration for the job.


The interview with the head of the specific department – i.e. your potential future superior – serves to clarify whether your particular skills of the applicant qualify you as suitable for the job vacancy and whether you are considered suitable to fit into the existing team. In addition, the head of the specific department is best suited to inform you of your duties and about the department.

The way the interview is conducted depends on the interviewers’ qualifications and experience. Apart from well versed interviewers who conduct the interview systematically, you way well meet interviewers in smaller companies who only recruit employees occasionally and who are not quite as confident and tenacious in their approach.

If you are a school leaver/college graduate and/or junior job applicant it is possible that you will be invited to attend a group job interview, i.e. together with other applicants. In such cases, the client wants to compare the job applicants directly with one another and to observe how they act within the group and towards one another.

A job interview usually lasts about an hour. However, depending on the job requirements, the interview can also last much longer.