Screening Interview Tips
Employers often use a screening interview when they want to meet with several candidates for a job, but they are trying to limit the amount of time it will take to go through the interview process.
It will usually be an in-person one on one interview, or it make take the form of a telephone job interview. It is very unlikely that you would face a panel of interviewers for a screening job interview.
If the company has received several promising resumes, and there are a lot of people they want to bring in for an interview, one person may be given the responsibility to conduct some initial interviews to get a first impression of the candidates. That way several people can be interviewed, but the company does not have to commit the time of several staff members, or more senior staff members to the initial stage in the hiring process.
Those candidates who make the best impression at the first interview, will be called to a second interview. In the second interview, the company will commit more staff time to the interview process because they will be very close to a hiring decision at that point. At this stage of the hiring process, you will typically meet with a panel of people who you would work with if you were offered the job, or you would meet with someone who is in a more senior position within the company.
Screening job interviews should be given the same level of importance and preparation as any other type of job interview. Making a great impression at this stage of the hiring process is crucial to getting to the second interview. You may not always know that you are at a screening job interview until after you have completed the interview, so in order to be prepared simply review the recommendations for preparing for a job interview as well at the tips for one on one interviews and phone interview tips.
