What is interviews: Definition and 31 Discussions

An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers. In common parlance, the word "interview" refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee. The interviewer asks questions to which the interviewee responds, usually providing information. That information may be used or provided to other audiences immediately or later. This feature is common to many types of interviews – a job interview or interview with a witness to an event may have no other audience present at the time, but the answers will be later provided to others in the employment or investigative process. An interview may also transfer information in both directions.
Interviews usually take place face-to-face, in person, but the parties may instead be separated geographically, as in videoconferencing or telephone interviews. Interviews almost always involve spoken conversation between two or more parties. In some instances a "conversation" can happen between two persons who type their questions and answers.
Interviews can be unstructured, free-wheeling and open-ended conversations without predetermined plan or prearranged questions. One form of unstructured interview is a focused interview in which the interviewer consciously and consistently guides the conversation so that the interviewee's responses do not stray from the main research topic or idea. Interviews can also be highly structured conversations in which specific questions occur in a specified order. They can follow diverse formats; for example, in a ladder interview, a respondent's answers typically guide subsequent interviews, with the object being to explore a respondent's subconscious motives. Typically the interviewer has some way of recording the information that is gleaned from the interviewee, often by keeping notes with a pencil and paper, or with a video or audio recorder. Interviews usually have a limited duration, with a beginning and an ending.Jai Shree Ram

The traditionally two-person interview format, sometimes called a one-on-one interview, permits direct questions and follow-ups, which enables an interviewer to better gauge the accuracy and relevance of responses. It is a flexible arrangement in the sense that subsequent questions can be tailored to clarify earlier answers. Further, it eliminates possible distortion due to other parties being present.
Face to face interviewing helps both parties to interact and form a connection, and understand the other. Further, face to face interview sessions can be more enjoyable.

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  1. K

    Degrees of freedom (question based on an interview I attended)

    I was asked by an interviewer the number of degrees of freedom (in both translation and rotational senses) this part has with respect to each axis. Indeed I can share what I think of here, but I want to start it fresh and correct. If you were the interviewee, what would have been your answer and...
  2. hagopbul

    Physics I have interviews as a physics lab assistant and lab apprenticeship

    Hello All : in the near future i will have few interviews as lab assistance and lab apprenticeship , mainly physics labs , do anyone have a source on lab devices to review before the interviews ? maybe i won't be able to find all my old books or internet links Best Regards Hagop Bulbulian
  3. F

    Admissions Designing interviews for PhD studentships

    Faculty looking for tips of designing PhD studentship interviews. Can there be more than 1 interview for each candidate, which is more common a practice in industry? How to determine the timescale: when enough applicants in the market have reached out to us for us to start interviewing? How to...
  4. R

    Any scientists here done interviews on shows? What's it like?

    Or maybe even talked to someone who doesn't do science but has an interest in the knowledge? How was your experience?
  5. kolleamm

    Are programming interviews effective these days?

    From what I've come to understand is that, in order to get a programming position, you have to be able to answer white board questions. Basically random things such as Fibonacci sequence methods etc... My question is : is this really the best way to asses whether someone is a good programmer or...
  6. Auto-Didact

    Who is Penrose Sir Roger Penrose? Insights from His Recent Interviews

    Sir Roger Penrose, famous for his numerous contributions to mathematics and physics, is approaching 90 but still pretty active. In this thread I'll post some of his most recent and best interviews. The interviews tend to be a mixture of him talking about some new idea of his, his prior academic...
  7. K

    Admissions PhD Interviews: Questions, Tips & Advice to Ease Nerves

    I managed to get a bunch of interviews. I'm nervous. What kinds of question should I expect? Are they going to try to quiz me on things? If I don't know who's interviewing me and I can't read their papers, what do I do if I'm unfamiliar with their field/specific project? What kinds of...
  8. B

    Technical Interviews: Preparing for a Hiring Manager Interview

    Hello, I am in my second year of a physics degree and am trying to secure an engineering internship for the summer. I have passed the company's aptitude tests, group and written exercises, and an interview with HR. The final hurdle is a technical interview (and presentation) with the hiring...
  9. T

    What universities have active research groups in Theoretical Condensed Matter?

    Hi All, I'm very close to having to start thinking about what and where my PhD will involve. I'm interested in Theoretical Condensed Matter, (possibly topological superconductors/insulators ) and was just wondering if anyone knows from experience which universities have very active research...
  10. D

    Advice for internship interviews

    I have 2 interviews coming up this week for potential internships/co-ops, one for a solar company and the other at an electronics company. For one of the positions, a physics PhD will be interviewing me, while I am unaware who will be the interviewer for the other position. Any advice, tips...
  11. Y

    Unpublished research and job interviews

    I'm doing my masters in engineering, and I have a job interview tomorrow. They've asked me to prepare a presentation of my research for the interview. The thing is, the PhD student I've been working with has asked me not to share the information with anyone else since not all of it has been...
  12. V

    Preparing for Technical Questions in PhD Interviews: To Review or Not to Review?

    I have been invited for a second interview in the Netherlands for a PhD position composed of the following: (1)to present my masters thesis research and (2) an interview with a group of about 3 people. I'm sure someone has written about this before, but I wanted to know to what extent I...
  13. D

    Do Physics Grad programs fly you out for interviews?

    I've become somewhat curious about this since I'm starting the Grad School application process. I know some universities will fly you out for an interview for their grad program. Do physics grad programs do this, or is this something determined by the graduate school itself, ie ALL/NO...
  14. B

    Job Skills Preparing for an Undergraduate Research Interview

    I have the opportunity to apply for undergraduate research positions at my university. In order to do this, I have to "interview" 3 or more of the Physics faculty about their research in order to learn more about what they're doing. I'm wondering what sort of questions I need to ask...
  15. C

    Chemistry How to dress for interviews (internship for my chemistry course)

    I have a couple of interviews coming up in the next few days but I don't really know what to wear. The first interview is for a quality assurance technologist position with a pharmaceutical company and the 2nd one is a research position (researching new adhesives) for an R&D company. I heard...
  16. B

    Schools Imperial College London Interviews?

    Halloz..I'm just wondering if anyone knows what type of questions..or what questions they have asked or likely to ask in their interviews? Anyone had any experiences? Thanks!
  17. Greg Bernhardt

    Bill Moyers interviews David Simon of The Wire

    I'm sure many of you have seen the HBO show The Wire. Personally I have just started the first season. My sister sent me this these youtube clips and I found them fascinating. One point I thought a lot about was something to the effect that America is content to leave the ghettos as they are...
  18. A

    Job Skills How to Navigate Diplomacy and Truth in Interviews?

    How do you go about in an interview when asked a question which has both a morally correct & a true answer? For example, let's say if asked of an opinion about a person X whom you don't like at all(it might be that X is a good person, just has been bad to you), & happens to be, let's say, a...
  19. TheStatutoryApe

    The Strangest Interviews: A Tale of Two Odd Jobs

    They made a rather interesting topic of this on the radio the other day. What is the strangest/most interesting job interview you have ever been on. Or who was the strangest person you have ever interviewed for a job. I can't think of any off hand except that strange guy I trained...
  20. P

    Job Skills Programming interviews: is it bad to study every possible question?

    Ok so for me, a job interview is still a while away, and I am not even sure if i will major in CS. But anyways, I've heard from my TAs that in their job interviews with microsoft and such, they are usually asked strange programming questions mostly involving linked lists, and riddles. Now...
  21. marcus

    Map of Bagger-Lambert papers-links, interviews

    Map of Bagger-Lambert papers--links, interviews http://sciencewatch.com/dr/erf/maps/08decerfBaggETRFM/#156486489 This is an interesting development in String/M, very recent, most papers just appeared in the past year or two. The map shows the most highly cited papers and their approx. degree...
  22. H

    Programs Applying to Study Physics at Oxford: Interviews or Paper-based Decisions?

    Hey, Just wondering if anyone has experience applying to study physics at the maths dept in oxford...do they generally do interviews before deciding admission? or is it like Imperial where quite often decisions are made solely on paper?
  23. J

    News Bush's Disastrous Interviews: A National Embarrassment

    Is it just me or is Bush doing a lot worse in interviews lately. It almost looks like he is been drinking again, or doesn't care anymore. I really can't watch it anymore without feeling embarrassed for him and for this country.
  24. A

    Programs Particle Physics PhD Interviews: Preparation & Experiences

    so, i have a few interviews for PhDs in particle physics over the next month and I'm looking for some information on what generally happens at a PhD interview. If anyone would like to share their experiences, interviewers or interviewees, i would greatly appreciate it. I'm not too worried...
  25. U

    Is It Common for Lockheed Martin to Skip Phone Screens in Syracuse Interviews?

    Hi all, I was contacted a week ago or so by a LHM representative for an interview in Syracuse, NY. They didn't call me for a phone interview (phone screen), which was kind of odd... and invited me to the "interview" that they're having. They did the same thing with my friend (who is a Finance...
  26. A

    Preparing for EE Job Interviews

    I'm almost into my senior year to get my EE degree, I was looking to get ready for my job interviews by reviewing my old courses, I was thinking of purchasing one or more book that will simply review(just for me to remember) topics in EE that can be asked in an interview, I heard the art of...
  27. M

    2 job interviews, do you tell the other guy you also have an interview?

    Hello everyone I'm alittle confused on what I should do. I have a job interview coming up march 12th with a manager at IBM in NC. But I just got another phone call today, from another Manager at IBM in a different location, this time Florida. I really want to go to NC but if I can't get...
  28. fargoth

    How to Handle Anxiety for First-Time Job Interviews?

    tomorrow are my interviews for work. i got about 6 interviews in a row, and its my first time being interviewed, so its pretty scarry... i haven't studied anything for it, so i hope their technic questions won't be too hard... I am terrible in remembering stuff, i only remember base...
  29. P

    Skeptic interviews alien abduction expert(Dr. David Jacobs)

    Here Dr. David Jacobs is interviewed by Aaron Sakulich: The first two pages (introduction)may be a bit dull, but it gets quite interesting after that. Does anyone disagree with something said in the interview? Heres another interesting quote:
  30. L

    Need help with college interviews

    Hi everyone: I am now a high school student, and am going to have a college interview next week. This will be the first interview in my whole life, and I am EXTREMELY nervous...Since that university is my first choice, I do not want to screw it up...any advice or tips for my first college...
  31. G

    Lucky Me: Proving the Odds Wrong in Job Interviews

    Sooo i was laid off yesterday. Went into get my paycheck and they fired me. Gave me a nice long speach about budget and stuff and i was like ok whatever. So i drove over and picked up my friend and brought her to work, they told her she was laid off too, and so i was like want to go apply at...
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