Career · Lesson Plan
The Different Types of Interviews
A job interview can take many forms, and knowing which you’re walking into changes how you prepare. This lesson covers the phases of an interview and the different formats students may face — one-on-one, panel, group, phone, and behavioral interviews — with what to expect and how to prepare for each. It complements the existing interview-skills lesson with a focus on format.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Career
- Grade Level
- Grades 9–12
- Resource Type
- Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 45–60 minutes
- Format
- Lesson + worksheet
- Materials
- Printable lesson, worksheet, pencils
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Describe the phases of an interview
- Identify the main types of interviews
- Explain what to expect in a panel or group interview
- Prepare for a phone interview
- Adapt preparation to the interview format
Materials
What you’ll need
- Printed lesson and worksheet (one per student)
- Pencils
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- Interview
- A meeting where an employer evaluates a job candidate.
- Panel interview
- An interview with several interviewers at once.
- Group interview
- An interview with several candidates at once.
- Phone interview
- An interview conducted by telephone, often a screen.
- Behavioral interview
- Questions about how you handled past situations.
- Phases
- The stages an interview moves through.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 45–60 minute class period.
Lesson sequence
- Phases of an interview (10 min). Opening, questions, your questions, and close.
- The formats (18 min). One-on-one, panel, group, phone, and behavioral interviews.
- Prepare per format (10 min). How preparation changes by type.
- Worksheet (12 min). Students match formats to preparation tips.
Assessment
Assess the worksheet for correct identification of interview types and sensible preparation.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- What are the phases of an interview?
- How is a panel interview different from a group interview?
- What should you expect in a phone interview?
- What is a behavioral interview?
- How does the interview type change how you prepare?
Printable Lesson & Worksheet
The Different Types of Interviews — Lesson & Worksheet
A printable lesson and worksheet on the types of job interviews (one-on-one, panel, group, phone, behavioral) and how to prepare for each.
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