An interview is a structured conversation or meeting between two or more parties, where one party (the interviewer) asks questions and the other party (the interviewee) provides answers. It is commonly used to assess qualifications, skills, suitability, or compatibility for a specific purpose, such as a job position or research
. The primary purposes of an interview include:
- Assessing suitability: Employers or interviewers evaluate whether a candidate's skills, experience, personality, and values match the requirements of the role and the organization
- Gathering information: Interviews help collect detailed information beyond what is presented in resumes or applications, verifying claims and exploring qualifications, attitudes, and character traits
- Decision making: Interviews assist in making informed decisions about hiring, admissions, or other selections by evaluating candidates or participants more deeply
- Communication and relationship building: Interviews facilitate a two-way exchange of information, allowing both parties to understand each other better and establish mutual understanding
- Selling the role or organization: Employers can use interviews to convey information about the job and company culture to attract suitable candidates
Interviews can be formal or informal, structured or unstructured, and conducted face-to-face, by phone, or via video conferencing
. In summary, an interview is a purposeful exchange designed to assess, gather information, and make decisions while fostering communication between the involved parties
