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Interview facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
HK CableTV Entertainment News Channel Interview
HK CableTV Entertainment News Channel Interview

An interview is a special kind of conversation where one person asks questions and another person gives answers. Think of it like a chat with a purpose! Usually, one person is the interviewer (the one asking questions) and the other is the interviewee (the one answering).

During an interview, the interviewer asks questions, and the interviewee shares information or their thoughts. They take turns talking, and the main goal is often for the interviewer to learn something new from the interviewee.

Where Do We See Interviews?

Interviews happen in many different places and for many reasons. Here are some common examples:

Getting a Job

Job interview
Job interview

When you grow up and want to get a job, you'll likely have a job interview. This is a formal meeting where you talk to someone from a company. They ask about your skills and experience to see if you're a good fit for the job.

Sometimes, a company might give you a case interview. This is where they give you a problem or challenge to solve. It helps them see how you think. To get ready, some people do a mock interview, which is like a practice interview. It helps them feel more confident for the real thing.

Different Kinds of Job Interviews

Job interviews can happen in stages. The first one might be a quick screening interview to see if you meet the basic requirements. If you do well, you'll have longer, more detailed interviews later. Thanks to technology, many interviews now happen online using video calls, even if people are in different cities!

Understanding People in Psychology

Psychologists use interviews to understand and help people. In a psychiatric interview, a doctor or therapist asks many questions to learn about a person's feelings and thoughts. This helps them understand what might be going on.

Sometimes, two people are interviewed together, like in couple interviews, to understand their relationship. Police officers and detectives also use special interviews, called cognitive interviews, with people who saw a crime. They try to help witnesses remember details clearly.

Learning for Research

In research, like when companies want to know what customers think, interviews are very useful. Researchers might ask people questions to understand their opinions and ideas. This is called qualitative research.

Some research companies use computers to help with phone interviews. This is called computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The computer dials numbers and helps the interviewer ask questions and record answers quickly.

News and Entertainment

Gregg Jarrett on set at Fox News 2016
Gregg Jarrett on set at Fox News 2016

Reporters often do interviews for the news. They talk to people over the phone or in person to get information for their stories. You might see reporters interview politicians on TV news shows.

On a talk show, a host interviews one or more guests. These interviews can be for fun and entertainment, or to share important information. Many of these interviews are recorded and can even be released on special discs.

Police Investigations

Interview Room West Valley
Police interview room at the LAPD West Valley Station

At a police station, officers might interview people who are involved in a crime. This is a conversation where they ask questions to get clues and information for their investigation. In some countries, these interviews are recorded to make sure everything is fair.

Other Important Interviews

You might have a college interview if you apply to a university. This is a chance for the college to learn about you and for you to learn about the college. Some people even get special coaching to help them prepare for interviews. Also, government officials might interview students from other countries before they can study in their nation.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Entrevista (general) para niños

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