How long your job interview should last (2024)

FAQs

How long your job interview should last? ›

Hiring managers will generally schedule about 30 minutes to interview a candidate for most position levels. If you lasted the full 30 minutes, you know that you answered the questions well.

Interview answers should be 30 seconds to four minutes, depending on the context of the questions. Your response may be short (30 seconds to two minutes) if the question is simple.

In-person interviews last between 45 and 1.5 hours, but it's not unheard of to have an interview that's only 30 minutes. It's important to keep in mind that if an interview is roughly 30 minutes, it can mean that the interviewer found everything that they needed to move you into the next round of interviews.

A 15-minute interview doesn't really give you a chance to ask questions from the interviewer. However, if you are interviewing for a full-time position, and you sense that things are beginning to wrap up after a few minutes, be bold and ask the interviewer about the qualifications you are lacking to fit the position.

But while any and all of the above can (and sometimes does) impact how long it takes for you to get a response after a job interview, Work says, “In most cases, you should hear back within one to two weeks max after a job interview, unless the recruiter or team lets you know it will take longer.”

Generate interview questions in minutes with our interview question generator. Although it varies depending on industry, most interviews last between 45 minutes and one hour. This should provide sufficient time and flexibility from both sides to get to know one another.

A standard in-person job interview typically lasts around 30 minutes to an hour. If your interview ended earlier than scheduled, it may signify that the recruiter made an early decision to move on to the next candidate.

38 percent of professionals voted that a good first interview should last 45 minutes. We agree! If your first interview lasted about 45 minutes, that is generally a good sign that the employer was interested in bringing you on board.

Sometimes interviews are short because everyone in the room has all the information they need. And often times, when everyone's on the same page this quickly, it means you did a pretty good job. So if an interviewer seemingly cuts a meeting short with you, don't panic.

What does a 20 minute interview mean? ›

No, a 20 to 30-minute interview isn't too short, and in fact, it could mean that you are the perfect fit for the position. Think about it like this: during the hiring process, the hiring manager may look at dozens of different applicants.

Forty-five minutes is what is considered the average amount of time a good interview should last. During this time, you'll have the opportunity to talk about your history, skills, education, and achievements while simultaneously sizing up the interviewer and company.

The truth is when it comes to rejecting candidates, recruiters may use different communication methods and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Receiving a phone call doesn't mean you're moving forward in the process any more than it could mean that you're being rejected. The same can be said of email.

Instead, take no more than 2-3 minutes to answer. It's better to err on the side providing too little information rather than too much. If the recruiter wants to know more, they'll ask you to expand. To achieve this, prepare a concise answer ahead of time.

Give five business days

If no timeline is provided, give a company five business days (or about a week) to come around and offer next steps. Consider adding two more business days to any timeline you are adhering to. This gives the company a buffer to respond to you when they are ready to talk.

"Tell Me About Yourself" is a longer version of the 30-second elevator pitch, with a maximum of two minutes. Inject storytelling and consider who, what, why, where, when, and how in your answer. Discuss your present job/title/student status/recent graduation and major/degree.

Aim for a response between one to two minutes, and avoid rambling or sharing irrelevant information.