Interview Features and Types

Learn more about the interview genre: its characteristics, types and how to use it in different contexts.

What is an interview?

Interviewing is a communication technique in which one person asks another person questions to obtain relevant information on a specific topic. It is used in a variety of contexts, such as journalism, recruitment and qualitative research. In an interview, the interviewer guides the conversation with open-ended and closed-ended questions, depending on the objective. The interview can be structured, where a predetermined series of questions is followed, or semi-structured, where more flexibility is allowed in the process. It is essential that the interviewer has effective communication skills, such as listening attentively, asking pertinent questions, and maintaining an appropriate tone of voice. The interview provides qualitative and, in some cases, quantitative data that can be used to analyze the information obtained. The selection of specific questions and social interaction during the interview are critical to obtaining relevant and accurate information from the interviewee.

What are the main characteristics of an interview?

The characteristics of an interview may vary depending on the context and purpose of the interview.

In general, an interview can be quantitative or qualitative. In a quantitative interview, numerical data is collected, and the aim is to objectively measure certain aspects. On the other hand, in a qualitative interview, more descriptive data is obtained, and the aim is to understand the experiences, opinions, and emotions of the interviewee.

An important feature of the interview is the possibility of recording it on audio or video, which makes it possible to analyze and evaluate the responses in greater detail a posteriori. In addition, interviews can be conducted in different ways, either face-to-face, by telephone or by digitally, which provides flexibility and greater reach.

In terms of structure, an interview follows a sequence of questions. It is essential that the questions are neutral, short and to the point, to avoid influencing the interviewee's response.

Another relevant feature is that interviews can be individual or in a group, depending on the context and the purpose. In some cases, group interviews make it possible to observe the social interaction among participants and to obtain different perspectives on the topic being addressed.

Which types of interviews are there?

There are different types of interviews, each with specific characteristics and objectives.

Structured interview

A structured interview is one in which a predetermined guide of questions is followed, which brings structure and consistency to the process. The main characteristics of a structured interview are the focus on obtaining accurate and comparable data among interviewees.

Unlike other types of interviews such as unstructured and semi-structured, the structured interview offers less freedom to the interviewer, since the questions are previously established. This allows for greater objectivity in obtaining data.

Unstructured interview

An unstructured interview is characterized by being more informal and subjective compared to structured interviews. Unlike the latter, it does not follow a standard process and does not have a predetermined set of questions.
This type of interview focuses on establishing an open-ended conversation with the interviewee, allowing topics of interest to emerge and the candidate's personality and experience to be explored in depth. The lack of rigidity in the interview structure allows the interviewer to tailor his or her questions according to the answers and provides a more complete picture of the person.

One of the advantages of unstructured interviews is that they provide an opportunity to assess the candidate's social skills, as well as their ability to communicate and adapt. In addition, by not having a rigid script, these interviews can be more relaxed and provide an atmosphere of trust, which makes it easier for the interviewee to feel comfortable and show their true personality.

Semi-structured interview

The semi-structured interview is a type of interview that combines specific and general questions in a pre-established and random order. Unlike the unstructured interview, this type has some organization in the questions posed to the interviewee.

One of the advantages of the semi-structured interview is that it saves time, since the interviewer can focus on the most relevant questions to obtain the necessary information. In addition, by having a pre-established and randomized order, the behavioral tendencies and communication skills of the interviewee can be known more efficiently.

This type of interview also provides a structure that guides the interviewer and ensures that the desired information is obtained. At the same time, it allows the flexibility to adapt the questions according to the interviewee's answers, which can help to delve deeper into specific aspects.

As for other types of interviews, such as job interviews, journalistic and academic interviews, each has its own specific characteristics and objectives. While job interviews focus on recruiting personnel and assessing the skills required for a position, journalistic interviews focus on obtaining relevant information for publication and academic interviews are mainly aimed at analyzing academic background and related knowledge.

Advantages of each type of interview

- Personal Interviews

Personal interviews offer several advantages. First, physical presence allows the questions to be tailored to the interviewee's answers, which makes it easier to obtain more complete responses. In addition, being physically present makes it possible to analyze the interviewee's body language, which can provide additional information about their emotions and attitudes. These advantages improve the quality of the interview, increase the response rate, and provide more complete and accurate information.

- Telephone or Video Call Interviews

One of the main advantages of telephone or video call interviews is that they are lower cost compared to other interview formats. There is no need to spend on travel or space rental, resulting in significant savings for organizations.

In addition, telephone or video call interviews allow information to be gathered quickly. By avoiding the need for face-to-face scheduling and travel, the data collection process is streamlined, which is beneficial for companies that need a quick response.

Choose the type of interview that best suits your needs!

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