Job interviews are essential to select the appropriate candidate. If you have reached an invitation to a job interview, you need to prepare yourself for the recruitment process. As this event is special for you, you need to know the necessary details of that day. How long does a job interview last? This is what you are going to discover today.

Are all Job Interviews the Same?

Of course not! There are many types of interviews. Each type depends on the company's nature, the job title, the employer's technique to ask and discuss the offer with applicants. If you are curious to know the difference between these interviews, look at the Fratres Career Advice section. This website includes updated professional tips to help maximum job seekers reach the best opportunities. If you didn't get an invitation to a job interview yet, or you didn't get any response, visit this article; How long does it take to hear back from an employer?

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We can say that every Interview differs in terms of the job, the number of people in it, and the questions employed to investigate with candidates. Whatever type of Interview is an occasion for both applicants and employers to meet. It is also an opportunity for the candidate better to understand the job description and the selection process. If you couldn't nail a job interview for the first time, don't worry. You still have the chance to learn from the previous experience and try again. You can also take a look at why people fail at a job interview.

How Long Does an Interview Last?

As we said before, each Interview is not the same in every application. The duration of a job interview differs from one occasion to another. Let's classify interviews in the function of their duration, starting from the shortest to the longest.

1.A Walk-in Interview:

This is the fastest application process. When you submit your application, you will automatically move to the interview level. This immediate Interview will not last too much as additional applicants are waiting for their turns. Interviewers choose this method to avoid maximum applications and save time. This Interview might last less than 30 minutes. Take a look at What is a Walk-in Interview?

2.Phone Interview:

This Interview will be considered as a brief interview. Employers or hiring managers employ the phone to avoid allocating time for face to face meetings. Instead of further preparations for this Interview, both parts will communicate through the phone. This method is considered the shortest as employers will not focus on your body language. They would rather care for your instant responses. A phone interview is considered less time consuming as hiring managers will not spend the rest of the day talking to applicants through the phone. They might dedicate 20 minutes or less for each applicant.

3. A Face-to-Face Interview :

This type is estimated to last 30 minutes. Hiring managers usually allocate 20 minutes or maybe less for this Interview, keeping the final 10 minutes for questions or inquiries. So, if your answers took the full duration, this is a sign that you have well invested in your interview session. For more tips about how to ace an interview, check this article.

4.Group Interview:

There are two types of group interviews. it is either:

• A group of employers Vs. a single applicant
• Many applicants Vs. a single interviewer

In the first case, when an applicant will face a group of interviewers, his/ her time should be well divided between interviewers. This type of Interview would automatically last more than 30 minutes, as you are expected to explain to each interviewer your views or are supposed to structure better answers.

The second case of job interviews is adopted in job fairs. It is usually for an employer, who comes from a remote city, or for urgent recruitment. Instead of meeting thousands of applicants for a specific offer, it is better to meet the earliest group who apply for a job and decide quickly. Applicants will be gathered together in a group interview. The event would sound like a competition where applicants would compete to break the ice first or build upon previous answers. This group interview might last for an hour or even less, depending on the conversation process.

After all, the average duration of a job interview varies between 30 minutes to one hour (in some cases, not always). Try to invest this duration in structuring the appropriate answer. If your conversation lasts less than 30 minutes, don't worry. It is not a matter of speaking too much. Employers do not get impressed by talkative people. What matters for them is the quality of your answers, not the quantity.