Observation Interview | Meaning and Definition

What is an observation interview?

An observation interview is a job interview that an employer or recruiter may conduct. The interviewer will watch how you interact with others and handle various situations to get a sense of your personality and how you would likely behave in the workplace. It can be helpful to know what to expect during an observation interview to be prepared to put your best foot forward.

Some things you can do to prepare for an observation interview include: being aware of your body language, speaking positively about past employers and colleagues, and being aware of the types of questions the interviewer might ask. It’s also important to remain calm and professional throughout the interview, no matter what happens. 

Benefits of observation interview

An observation interview is a technique used in organizational psychology to help understand the behavior of employees. There are 5 primary benefits to using this technique: 

•   It helps identify dysfunctional behaviors and makes it easier to develop interventions.
•   It allows for an understanding of the motives behind people’s actions.
•   It provides information on how people interact with each other and their work environment.
•   It helps develop a better understanding of team dynamics.
•   Observing people in their natural work setting allows for a more accurate assessment of their abilities and potential areas for development. 

There are two main types of observation interviews:

•   Continuous monitoring involves observing a person continuously over some time. This type of interview is often used to gather information about a person’s behavior or track their progress.
•   On the other hand, time allocation involves allocating specific periods for observation. This type of interview is more structured and can be used to collect more detailed information about a person’s behavior.