Interview — Meaning, Types and Essential Skills

Introduction

In modern academic and professional life, the interview has become one of the most important tools for selection and evaluation. Admission to courses, appointment to jobs, promotion, scholarship and even some types of research all make use of interviews. For a student of the Ability Enhancement Course, a clear understanding of interview and its essential skills is necessary because the interview is often the final stage between education and employment.

Meaning of Interview

The word interview literally means “a meeting face to face”. In the context of communication, an interview may be defined as:

“A planned, face-to-face (or sometimes technology-mediated) conversation between two or more persons, in which one party asks questions and the other answers, with the specific purpose of obtaining information, assessing suitability or taking a decision.”

Usually there are two sides:

• the interviewer or interview panel, and
• the interviewee or candidate.

Unlike casual conversation, the interview is formal, purposeful and guided by a definite agenda, such as selecting the best candidate for a job or seat.

Objectives of an Interview

The interview serves several important objectives, both for the organisation and for the candidate.

1. To Obtain First-Hand Information

Through an interview, the organisation obtains fresh, first-hand information about the candidate’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, personality and attitude. Written documents like application forms and certificates tell only part of the story; the interview allows deeper insight.

2. To Assess Suitability

One main objective is to judge whether the candidate is suitable for the particular course or job. The interview helps to evaluate:

• subject knowledge and general awareness,
• communication skills, especially listening and speaking,
• confidence, initiative and leadership qualities, and
• values, behaviour and ability to work in a team.

3. To Clarify Details and Remove Doubts

An interview provides an opportunity to clarify any doubtful points in the application form, such as gaps in education or changes in career. The candidate can also ask questions about the organisation, job profile or course structure.

4. To Provide Information and Create a Good Image

From the organisation’s side, the interview is also a chance to give accurate information about its expectations, policies and work culture. A well-conducted interview creates a positive image of the institution in the mind of candidates, even if they are not selected.

Types of Interviews

Interviews can be classified in different ways. In the context of the Ability Enhancement Course, the following types are especially relevant.

1. Selection or Job Interview

This is the most common type. Candidates are interviewed for appointment to a new job or for campus placement. The focus is on checking qualifications, technical knowledge, communication skills, confidence and suitability for the position.

2. Admission or Academic Interview

For admission to certain professional courses, colleges and universities conduct interviews to judge the candidate’s motivation, academic interests and preparedness for the course.

3. Promotion and Appraisal Interview

Employees already working in an organisation may be interviewed for promotion or performance appraisal. Here the emphasis is on review of past performance, strengths, weaknesses and future potential.

4. Exit Interview

When an employee resigns or leaves a job, some organisations conduct an exit interview to understand reasons for leaving and to get feedback about working conditions and policies.

5. Counselling or Guidance Interview

In schools, colleges and counselling centres, interviews may be used to understand the personal or academic problems of students and to guide them appropriately. The tone here is more supportive and empathetic than evaluative.

6. Telephonic and Online Interviews

With the growth of technology, many preliminary interviews are conducted through telephone, video calls or online platforms. The basic principles remain the same, but the candidate must pay extra attention to voice clarity, camera position and technical readiness.

Stages of an Interview

For the candidate, the interview experience can be divided into three main stages.

1. Pre-interview Stage (Preparation)

Before entering the interview room, effective candidates complete certain important preparations:

• collect information about the organisation and the position,
• revise subject knowledge and recent developments,
• prepare a clear self-introduction and review their own CV, and
• arrange documents neatly and dress suitably for the occasion.

2. During the Interview

This stage covers the actual face-to-face interaction:

• entering the room with confidence and greeting the panel,
• taking the seat only when invited,
• listening carefully to questions and answering them clearly and honestly,
• maintaining polite language, eye contact and positive body language, and
• thanking the panel at the end.

3. Post-interview Stage

After the interview, responsible candidates:

• review their own performance to note strengths and weaknesses,
• complete any follow-up, such as sending documents if requested, and
• wait patiently for the result without unnecessary anxiety.

Essential Skills for Success in Interviews

Certain key skills greatly increase the chances of success in interviews. These skills are a natural extension of listening and speaking skills studied in the Ability Enhancement Course.

1. Planning and Self-awareness

A good interview performance begins with self-awareness. The candidate should have a clear idea of:

• personal strengths and weaknesses,
• short-term and long-term goals,
• reasons for choosing a particular course or career, and
• skills and achievements that are relevant to the position.

This clarity helps in giving confident and consistent answers.

2. Verbal Communication Skills

The ability to use language effectively is central to interview success.

• Clarity: Answers should be direct and to the point, avoiding long, confusing sentences.
• Appropriate vocabulary: Standard, polite English is preferred; slang and very casual expressions should be avoided.
• Logical organisation: Points should be arranged in a logical order, for example, past → present → future or reason → example → result.

3. Listening Skills

An interview is not a one-sided speech. Effective candidates listen carefully to the exact wording of questions before answering. Good listening prevents misunderstanding and allows the candidate to respond to what is actually asked, not to what is imagined.

4. Non-verbal Communication

Interviewers form impressions not only from words but also from body language.

• Neat and appropriate dress conveys seriousness and respect for the occasion.
• Entering with a gentle smile, offering a polite greeting and sitting straight suggest confidence.
• Eye contact with different members of the panel shows attentiveness and honesty.
• Avoiding restless movements, crossing arms tightly or playing with pens prevents negative impressions.

5. Honesty and Positive Attitude

Interviewers usually value honesty and a positive attitude more than artificial perfection.

• Admitting honestly when one does not know an answer is better than guessing wildly.
• Speaking respectfully about previous institutions, teachers or employers reflects good character.
• Presenting weaknesses along with efforts to improve them shows maturity.

6. Ability to Answer Common Questions

Certain questions frequently appear in interviews, such as:

• “Tell us something about yourself.”
• “Why do you want to join this course/company?”
• “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• “Where do you see yourself after five years?”

Preparing thoughtful answers to such questions in advance helps the candidate to speak confidently and avoid nervous silence.

7. Asking Relevant Questions

At the end of an interview, candidates are sometimes invited to ask questions. Intelligent, relevant questions show genuine interest and awareness. For example, asking about training opportunities, future growth or specific responsibilities gives a good impression. On the other hand, questions only about salary or holidays at the first stage may appear immature.

8. Time Management and Courtesy

Punctuality is an essential interview skill. Reaching the venue before time, switching off the phone, waiting patiently and speaking politely to office staff all contribute to the final impression. A courteous “Thank you for giving me this opportunity” at the end completes the interview gracefully.

Do’s and Don’ts for Candidates (Brief Summary)

For quick revision, the essentials may be summarised as:

• Do collect information, prepare and practise.
• Do dress neatly, be punctual and carry necessary documents.
• Do listen carefully, answer clearly and maintain eye contact.
• Do remain calm, honest and courteous throughout.
• Don’t argue, boast or criticise previous institutions.
• Don’t tell lies, exaggerate achievements or memorise artificial speeches.
• Don’t appear overconfident, casual or careless in dress and manner.

Conclusion

To sum up, an interview is a planned, purposeful conversation between interviewer and candidate, designed to obtain information and judge suitability for admission, employment or promotion. It serves multiple objectives: collecting first-hand data, assessing personality and communication skills, clarifying doubts and presenting the organisation’s image. Interviews may be of many types – selection, admission, appraisal, exit, counselling, telephonic or online – but all require similar communication skills. For success, candidates need careful preparation, clear and honest answers, attentive listening, positive body language, polite behaviour and thoughtful self-presentation. Mastery of these interview skills, as emphasised in the Ability Enhancement Course, opens the door from the classroom to the world of work and greatly increases the chances of academic and professional success.