This page covers the meaning of an interview, its types, and its role in business communication — the way it is taught in BBA and B.Com syllabi.
What is an interview?
An interview is a structured conversation between two or more people with a definite purpose, in which one party seeks information and the other provides it. In business communication it is classified as a form of oral, face-to-face communication with a predetermined objective.
The word comes from the French entrevue, meaning to see each other. The defining features are that it has a purpose, it is planned, and it involves an exchange rather than a one-way transfer of information.
Characteristics of an interview
- It has a specific, agreed purpose.
- It is planned rather than casual.
- It involves two-way communication.
- It is usually time-bound.
- Both parties exchange information, not only the interviewee.
Types of interview
By purpose
- Job or selection interview — assessing a candidate for a role.
- Appraisal interview — reviewing an employee’s performance.
- Exit interview — understanding why an employee is leaving.
- Counselling interview — helping an employee with a difficulty.
- Disciplinary interview — addressing conduct or performance problems.
- Persuasive interview — convincing the other party to accept an idea or product.
- Information-gathering interview — research, surveys, journalism.
By structure
- Structured — a fixed set of questions asked of every candidate, so answers can be compared directly.
- Unstructured — open conversation with no fixed sequence, which gives depth but is hard to compare.
- Semi-structured — a planned core of questions with freedom to follow up.
By format
- One-to-one — a single interviewer and candidate.
- Panel interview — several interviewers together.
- Group interview — several candidates assessed at once.
- Stress interview — deliberate pressure to observe reactions.
- Telephonic or video interview — commonly used for screening.
Importance in business communication
- It is the main method organisations use to select employees.
- It allows assessment of things a written application cannot show — manner, clarity, composure.
- It gives the candidate a chance to evaluate the organisation in return.
- It supports appraisal, counselling and exit processes throughout employment.
Frequently asked questions
What is an interview in business communication?
A planned, purposeful oral exchange between two or more parties, used to gather or convey information — most commonly for selection, appraisal or exit.
What is the difference between structured and unstructured interviews?
A structured interview uses the same fixed questions for every candidate, so answers can be compared. An unstructured interview is open and conversational, giving depth but making comparison difficult.
What is a stress interview?
One in which the interviewer deliberately creates pressure — rapid questioning, interruption, deliberate silence — to observe how the candidate reacts.