How Long Should an Interview Last?

Organising and managing the interview process can be a complicated task. The length of the interview can widely vary depending on the needs of your hiring process. Here we will run through the different types of interviews and how long you can expect each one to take.

How long is an interview?

When planning your interview times, make sure you have given yourself enough time. This helps you get a clear view of the candidate’s skills and experience. However, avoid making the interview longer than needed. Depending on the industry, type of interview and seniority of the role, interview times can vary, but most are between 45 minutes and 1 hour.  

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• ‍Phone interviews – These are a good first interview to filter through a lot of candidates quickly. They tend to be around 15 minutes long and give the candidate an overview of the interview process, job role, and allow you to clarify the candidate’s details.  ‍
• Video interviews – These are another easy way to interview many candidates, especially if the role is remote or involves flexible working. These interviews tend to last between 30 minutes and 2 hours and are often conducted over Teams or Zoom. ‍
• Face-to-face interviews – This is the most popular interview type, and most roles will require at least one in-person interview stage. These usually last 45 to 90 minutes. However, the time can change if you ask the candidate to do a skills test or a presentation.   ‍
• Technical interview – This job interview style involves fielding the candidate with technical questions related to the job requirements and they often last 45 to 90 minutes.  ‍
• Group interview – This is a common interview style for entry-level roles with multiple job positions available, or for jobs that require a lot of teamwork. The amount of time varies depending on the group size, but most are around an hour long. ‍
• Trial shift – The longest interview type is a trial shift, where the candidate is required to perform job tasks under supervision to assess their ability to perform the role. This may last up to a day and is a more practical assessment.

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Planning for additional time

Alongside the interview questions, there may be additional factors to consider when planning how long the interview will last.  

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You should give the candidate at least 15 minutes at the end of the interview to ask and answer questions about the role or company.

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The candidate will likely arrive early for the interview. Therefore, you should be ready 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

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Lastly, if you plan to show the candidate around the office, or introduce them to other members of staff, be aware that this could increase the overall interview time.

At ACS Staffing Solutions, we help employers find the perfect candidate for their job role and help streamline the recruitment process. Get in touch to learn more.