Interviews remain a standard part of the hiring process. You’ll feel anxious as you tackle an interview, so you want to prepare yourself beforehand. But what if your prospective employer wants you to do a working interview?
Is a working interview a good sign? Is a working interview paid? Does a working interview mean I got the job? What to wear to a working interview? How long is a working interview? So many questions!
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People naturally wonder what a working interview involves if they haven’t experienced one before. However, as we help you understand working interviews and what they involve, you can prepare for them.
What Is a Working Interview?
People want to know what is a working interview, so you must note they take different approaches based on the company. A working interview example involves you performing tasks or work in the workplace.
The employer will have managers or other leaders review your work and determine if you qualify for the position. Working interviews will sometimes incorporate final interview portions alongside the work to see if you meet all the qualifications.
Pros and Cons
Before you can make a checklist and prepare for your working interview, you should review the pros and cons.
Doing so will help you understand why businesses have working interviews, so you can use their advantages while working around the drawbacks.
The Pros
Working interviews offer some solid pros, so you should consider them as you prepare for one:
- Getting direct experience
- Showing your skills
- Interacting with the business
When you get called in for a working interview, you can have direct experience with the business. You’ll get to show the company your skills and why they should pick you for the position.
On top of getting that experience, you’ll also get to interact with the business and leaders.
You’ll see the workflow and determine whether your style works for the company. Even if they want you to work there, you can use the experience as a test run to see if the job fits your work style.
The Cons
While a working interview offers some solid pros, you should also consider the cons:
- Leaving a negative impression
- Lots of pressure
While focusing on your working interview, you risk giving off a negative impression. For example, you could mess up and make the employer think you don’t have the experience to handle the position.
Some people will also feel tons of pressure while they go through the working interview. People get nervous during a panel interview, so imagine those nervous feelings building on top of the need to show off your skills in a work environment.
Since it can leave bad impressions and create tons of pressure, you may struggle to perform your best during a working interview.
What To Expect from Your Working Interview
As you go through your working interview, you should expect the following details:
- Receiving an assignment
- Getting a deadline
- Having people check your work
Your potential employer will give you an assignment based on the work they want you to do. Once you get the assignment, you’ll also get a deadline to give you a general idea of their expectations when it comes to speed.
As you understand the time frame given to you and the task, you can plan accordingly and set expectations for the interview. You must also note that people have to check your work, so expect them to go through it and give you feedback.
You should expect consistent monitoring alongside specific expectations set for you. As you follow those expectations and listen, you’ll succeed.
Are Working Interviews Paid?
Most working interviews require payment. Since you do work for the business, they have to offer you at least minimum wage for the job. Whether you receive compensation varies depending on where you live, so check your local laws.
Talk with the employer about this so you know what to expect pay-wise. You don’t want to agree to work unless you know you’ll receive compensation, so you must ask about it since you should never assume you’ll get paid.
If the company doesn’t want to pay you, and your area doesn’t have laws requiring it, find out how long the work will take. You can then determine if you should bother with the workload compared to the potential compensation you’ll receive once you get a job.
Nailing Your Working Interview
If your potential employer plans to have a working interview, you should take the steps necessary to succeed. As you focus on nailing the working interview and tackling their tasks effectively, you can secure the job and leave a positive impression on them.
Take Your Time
If you plan on handling a working interview, you should take your time during the process. Ensure you don’t speed through the process since doing so will cause you to overlook important details and drop the quality of your work.
You also must remember any deadlines they give you. Most businesses will provide you with specific deadlines for you to meet, so make sure to follow them. You should space out the work to avoid procrastination and rushing.
Exemplify Your Resume
Since you spent time crafting a resume, you’ll want to show off your abilities to the business. In addition, if you’re going to make the most out of your working interview, you should exemplify your resume to show them your honesty and abilities.
Make sure you look at your resume again, see what points they liked from it, and focus on those skills during the working interview.
Keep Asking Questions
The business doesn’t expect you to know everything they want you to do. So as you handle the task, ask questions for feedback and direction.
If you take the time to ask questions, you show them your desire to meet their needs. You also can show off your ability to communicate so they know your willingness to listen and work with them.
Final Thoughts
Some people wonder what is a working interview when they haven’t experienced one. A working interview lets you show off your abilities, so the employers get a better idea of how well you perform.
You can secure the position as you go through the process and figure out how to tackle the task. Maximize your odds, focus on nailing the working interview, and get started with your new job!