Interview formats explained (non-native English speakers)
Short answer
The format changes how you give your answers, not what makes a good answer. Choose the format on your invitation below to see what usually happens, how to prepare, and English phrases for the moments that are hardest in a second language.
Interview formats
- Phone interview — A phone interview is usually a short first call to check your experience, availability and how clearly you communicate.
- Video interview — A video interview is like a face-to-face interview on a screen, so prepare the same answers and also test your camera, sound and internet before the call.
- Panel interview — In a panel interview, two or more people ask the questions, often one after another, and each may listen for something different.
- Group interview — In a group interview, several candidates meet at the same time and usually do a task or discussion together while assessors watch.
- Competency-based interview — A competency-based interview asks for real examples of things you have done, usually starting with "Tell me about a time when…".
- Second interview — A second interview usually goes deeper than the first: more detail about how you do the work, harder follow-up questions, and often a manager or a task.
- Internal interview — An internal interview is for a job with your current employer, such as a promotion or a move to another team.
More formats
Questions people ask
How do I find out which format my interview is?
Read the invitation carefully. If it is not clear, it is normal to reply and ask: "Could you tell me what format the interview will be, and who I will meet?"
Do I need different answers for different formats?
Your main stories can stay the same. What changes is how you deliver them: shorter and slower on the phone, clearer structure for a panel, more listening in a group.
Practise in the format you have
Choose your interview format and answer real questions out loud or in writing. See what an interviewer may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.