How Long Are Interviews?

Interview jitters are often caused by the unknown. How long are the interviews? How early should I be? What questions will be asked? How many people will be in the room? While most of us never truly know what to expect in an interview, this article will help ease your mind and prepare you for interviews of varying lengths.

The length of an interview can be dependent on several different variables:

Modality of the interview – face-to-face, telephone, or video conference.
Size of interview panel – one hiring manager verse a panel of five or more people.
Level of the position – executive roles often include full-day or multi-day interviews.
Type of interview – conversational interviews verse a working interview.
Number of candidates – one-on-one interviews tend to be shorter than group interviews.

Below are some things to expect during interviews of varying lengths. Remember that these are guidelines, and each interviewing experience will be different. Finally, don’t miss the information at the bottom of this article to help you identify questions you could ask when you receive the invitation to interview.

1 Hour Interview

Most interviews for entry-level and public-facing roles will be around one hour and possibly even shorter. One-hour interviews are typically conversational and include the traditional question and answer component.

If you anticipate a one-hour interview, be sure you are as prepared as possible. Here are some great resources for you:

If you have been given a one-hour interview timeframe, your interview will probably not include a tour, presentation, or on-the-job component.

2 Hour Interview

Sometimes interviews will be a little longer. If you are applying for a management role or anticipate the position reporting to multiple supervisors, you should prepare for a slightly longer interview.

A two-hour interview often includes the standard question and answer session with at least one person. The additional time will likely be spent on one of the following activities:

tour of the company.
working demonstration.
second question and answer session with another person or supervisor.
panel interview with potential colleagues or subordinates.
presentation from you, the candidate.
skill or aptitude test.

If you have a two-hour interview, consider asking some of the questions in the “Questions to Consider Asking When an Interview Invitation is Extended” section at the bottom of this article.

3 Hour Interview

Like a two-hour interview, a three-hour interview will likely include multiple activities. For interviews three hours or longer, it is acceptable to ask for a schedule or agenda. It will help you prepare for the interview and understand with whom you will be interacting.

If you know you have a three-hour interview, expect to engage in roughly three of the activities listed above (under the two-hour interview heading).

All Day Interviews

While longer interviews can be exhausting, they give candidates much better insight. In my interviewing articles, I often speak of an interview being a two-way exchange. Just as the company uses an interview to determine if a candidate will be a good fit for their role and organization, a candidate should use the interview process to ensure the work environment, company culture, job duties, colleagues, and management styles will be fulfilling.

All-day interviews are an opportunity to be immersed in the culture for a day. You will have the opportunity to meet many people, such as senior leaders, middle managers, and the front-line employees who are the face of the organization.

If you have an all-day interview, you should receive a schedule. Often, it will include names and titles of the individuals you will spend portions of your day with and any panel interviews, presentations you will be giving, and tours or demonstrations that you will be privileged to. Expect to have some conversational interview components over meals as well.

While preparation for all-day interviews will vary based on the activities, I recommend spending time researching the people you will be meeting and their roles and preparing specific questions you would like to ask each one. Preparing questions in advance will help take the pressure off of you and allow you to gain valuable insight into the organization and your potential colleagues.

Questions to Consider Asking When an Interview Invitation is Extended

If you wonder, “How long are interviews?” consider asking a few questions about the interview process when you receive the invitation. Here are some great questions to ask:

“May I ask who I will have the pleasure of meeting in my interview?”
“To ensure I have the proper technology available, can you tell me which video conferencing or communication tool we will use?”
If you anticipate a longer interview, consider asking, “Will an agenda or schedule for the interview be provided prior?”
“Will there be additional components to the interview such as a tour, presentation, or working demonstration?”

Of course, don’t forget to thank the person for extending the invite to interview! Sometimes the person contacting you to set up the interview will be from the human resource department and might be unsure what the hiring manager has planned. If this is the case, the HR representative might be willing to get the information on your behalf or share the hiring manager’s contact information.

While it is important and very helpful to know what to expect, you also want to ensure that you are not being too needy. If a presentation, working interview, or interview length is not noted when you receive the invitation, your interview will likely be traditional: face-to-face, questions-and-answer-based, and at or under one hour.

Do you have an interview?

An interview prep session will help you stand out!

Hello! My name is Loren Kelly, and I am passionate about helping students and professionals accomplish their career goals! Whether you are interviewing for a promotion, changing your career field, or have been invited to interview for your dream job, I can help you stand out amongst candidates with the right interview preparation. Let’s boost your confidence and success with an Interview Preparation Coaching Session!