Q. What is the preliminary interview?

Preliminary interview: it is generally regarded as exchange of basic information between the candidate and the personnel manager about the job and organization, like job nature, salary, working conditions, benefits etc. It is helpful to the organization to weed out unwanted hands and to the candidate to select or reject the job. Sometimes it may prove to be unsatisfactory, when the exchange of the information between the candidate and the organization is not sure. This interview may generally be informal and unstructured.

a. Informal interview: this is the interview which can be conducted at any place by any person to secure the basic and non job related information. The interaction between the candidate and the personnel manager when the former meets the latter to enquire about the vacancies or additional particulars in connection with the employment advertisement is an example of informal interview.

b. Unstructured interview: in this interview the candidate is given the freedom to tell about himself by releasing his knowledge on various items / areas, his background, expectations, interests etc. similarly the interviewer also provides information on the various items required by the candidate.