Most employers interview an applicant once before deciding whether to offer a person a job.

Employers often want to know more information before deciding to interview a job applicant. Applications and resumes sometimes do not provide enough information or employers cannot always trust that the information provided is true. Job applicants have a right to privacy, but employers are free to find information about applicants within certain restrictions. Inquiries should be related to the job, according to NOLO, a legal information resource for consumers. The best course is to obtain consent before looking for certain types of information.

Applications and Resumes

1. Application and resumes give employers information about applicants. Employers can note whether an applicant submits all materials by the deadline and attaches a proper cover letter. Submitted resumes will show an applicant's ability to format and summarize information in a professional document. Completion of a company application demonstrates the applicant's attention to detail, neatness and communication style. Careful review of employment history tells employers how long an applicant is likely to remain on a job, if the applicant has advanced in his career and if the applicant is qualified for the position.

References

1. Employers check references to verify an applicant's work history and learn about work habits, promotions, reasons for leaving jobs and whether previous employers would rehire the applicant. An employer might learn additional information about the applicant's attitude or behavior. Professional and personal references also provide information about the applicant. Some employers call references and others will mail forms for completion and return. Employers should verify letters of recommendation with a phone call to the provider of the letter.

Background Checks

1. Some employers conduct background checks on potential employees before scheduling interviews. States have varying laws governing the performance and use of criminal background checks. Federal law requires employers to get an applicant's permission to run a credit check. Employers may learn about bankruptcy information but cannot use the information to make employment decisions. Employers need an applicant's permission to view school records.

Psychological and Skills Tests

1. Employers sometimes use psychological or personality testing to learn about applicants before job interviews. The tests ask questions that are intended to reveal dishonesty, potential personality issues and other behaviors or thoughts that make the applicant a poor choice for employment. Employers also use tests to measure the job skills of applicants in relation to the position for which they are applying. The tests are given in paper form or online.

Prescreening Phone Interview

1. An employer might use a telephone interview to prescreen applicants. This is a helpful tool when job interviews are performed by interview committees. Employers use the phone interviews to gather more information, clarify information on applications and resumes and identify specific applicants to move on to the next step in the process. The University of California Davis instructs hiring staff to view the prescreening telephone interview as a scripted, fact-finding session that should be formal and documented.

Tips and Warnings

1. Many companies provide authorization documents for applicants to sign after an interview. However, if you intend to perform these information searches before an interview, include authorization forms for reference checks, background checks and credit checks in the application package and instruct applicants to sign and return the forms. Employers should check with attorneys or review the laws before conducting background checks.

Research Summary. Job interviews might be a nerve-wracking experience, but breaking the process down into facts and figures might make it seem a little less scary. After careful research, our team found that:

• It takes the average person 24 weeks to go through the hiring and interview process and find a job.

• On average, a candidate will get one interview request for every six applications they complete.

• On average, women are 30% less likely to be selected for a job interview than men with similar qualifications and professional backgrounds.

• The average corporate job opening gets 250 resumes — of those, between four to six will be called for an interview.

• The interview process takes an average of 23 days.

• The average applicant applies to 27 companies before landing an interview.

How Many Interviews Does it Take to Get a Job?

• All job seekers have a 26.24% probability of receiving a job offer.

  Generally speaking, those who apply for 21 to 80 job postings have a 30.89% chance of receiving a job offer and getting hired, while job seekers who submit more than 81 applicants have a 20.36% chance of getting hired.

  After a job interview, it takes 20 to 40 days, on average, to receive a job offer. A rejected job offer usually comes five to eight weeks after a candidate’s first job interview.



• Job seekers have a 36.89% chance of receiving a job offer after having one interview.

  Professionals who have had at least one job interview after two months of submitting an application have a 36.89% chance of receiving a job offer, while those who have had no interview after two months have a 9.94% chance of receiving an offer.

• Job seekers who have had three job interviews have a 51% chance of getting hired.

  According to recruiters, people who have been selected for three job interviews have the greatest probability of receiving a job offer.

  Those who have had two interviews have a 17% chance, those who have had four interviews have a 22% chance, and those who have five or more interviews have a 9% chance of getting hired.

What Percentage of Applicants Get an Interview?

• Job seekers who apply for more positions receive more interviews.

  Professionals who apply for one to ten jobs in a two-month period typically are asked to interview for 0 to two positions, while those who apply for 21 to 80 jobs usually have one to seven interviews.

• Most job seekers receive one interview offer for every six applications they submit.

  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 47.3% of people who submit up to ten job applications and 35.1% of people who submit between 11 and 20 job applications receive one or two interview invitations.

Average Length of a Job Interview

• Face-to-face interviews last an average of 40 minutes.

  On average, interviews run for 40 minutes, but the typical interview ranges from between 30 and 90 minutes. Job seekers typically hear back from the company within 24 hours to two weeks.

• The first minute and a half of a job interview are the most important.

  Approximately 33% of interviewers decide whether or not they want to hire a candidate during the first 90 seconds of a job interview.

• The average interview process for a single job takes 27.5 days in the United States.

  Job seekers can expect the average company’s interview process to take just under one month, from submitting an application to being selected for an interview, completing pre-employment screenings, and possibly receiving a job offer.

Job Interview Failure Statistics

• Unemployed people have a harder time securing job interviews and getting hired.

  The probability of getting called in for an interview and receiving a job offer decreases the longer a person is unemployed.

  Job seekers who are unemployed for less than five weeks have a 30.94% chance of receiving a job offer, while those unemployed for more than 27 weeks have an 18.44% chance.



• 50% of hiring managers believe that the way a candidate dresses and acts at a job interview can be grounds for elimination from consideration for the job.

  In fact, 20% said they would not consider someone for the role who sat with their arms crossed during a job interview, and 65% said they would not consider someone who failed to make eye contact.



• 40% of recruiters will not hire candidates who are not confident in themselves.

  Just under half of all job recruiters consider a lack of a smile at a job interview a good enough reason not to consider or hire an otherwise qualified applicant and 40% of interviewers consider the quality of a candidate’s voice before deciding whether or not to continue the interview process.

  HR managers a;sp report that 47% of candidates fail their interview because they don’t have enough information about the company.

Video and Phone Interview Frequency and Other Statistics

• Phone interviews usually add up to eight days to the recruiting process.

  While the interview process commonly takes about a month, phone interviews can extend that time by more than one week.

• Video interviews are increasing in popularity faster than ever before.

  About 60% of job recruiters use video technology to interview candidates remotely.

  81% of recruiters have claimed that virtual recruitment will continue well after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, 74% of recruiters say that video interviews have made their life easier.

• Initial phone interviews usually last about 15 minutes.

  Phone interviews are most typically used as a screening tool before a longer and more structured job interview is scheduled.

• Recruiters use targeted approaches to evaluate job candidates.

  Human Resources representatives use structured interview techniques 74% of the time, followed by behavioral interviews 73% of the time, phone screenings 57% of the time, and panel interviews 48% of the time.

Job Interview Statistics by Age

• Job applicants that are 55 years old are three times less likely to be called in for a job interview compared with younger people with less experience applying for the same role.

• Research shows that 95% of people try to look younger during job interviews in hopes of upping their chances of getting hired.

• Age discrimination in job interviews has been reported in 85% of finance positions, 84% of advertising positions, and 81% of digital marketing positions.

• 75% of older Americans have reported feeling discriminated against because of their age during a job interview.

Job Interview Statistics by Race

• Young white men are 1.8 times more likely to be invited for an interview than white men in their 50s.

• Young white men are 2.3 times more likely to be invited for an interview than white women in their 50s.

• Young white men are 2.6 times more likely to be invited for an interview than black men in their 50s.

• And, young white men are 3 times more likely to be selected for an interview than black women in their 50s.

• 77% of hiring managers consider diversity a crucial aspect of job interviews and recruitment.

Job Interview Statistics by Gender

• Men are 33% more confident in their performance at job interviews than women.

• The chances of being selected for a job interview are 23.5% lower for women without children than for their male peers in almost identical circumstances.

• Female job applicants with children are 35.9% less likely to be called in for a job interview than male applicants with children.

Job Interview Statistics by Education

• About 35% of job postings require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree, and an additional 30% require an associate’s degree or some level of college education in order to be selected for a job interview.

• In addition to specific education requirements, many job seekers must complete assessments prior to being invited for a job interview. About one in four businesses require assessments prior to advancing to the interview round of the hiring process.

Job Interview Statistics by Industry

• Across most industries, recruiters take approximately six seconds to scan a resume and determine whether or not to invite someone in for a job interview.

• The average corporate job attracts 250 applicants. Only four to six of those individuals get called in for an interview.

• 94% of sales professionals report salary being one of the most important discussions of a job interview.

• On average, 36% of recruiters hiring blue and white-collar workers evaluate a candidate for multitasking skills during a job interview, while 31% look for initiative, and 21% look for creative thinking abilities.

Conclusion

If you’re one of the millions of Americans on the job hunt, understanding some of the most telling job interview statistics like the fact that women are 30% less likely to be selected for a job interview than men could help you to be successful throughout the interview process and score your dream job 20 to 40 days after your initial interview.

While only 20% of applicants advance to the interview round of the hiring process, more job applications lead to more job interviews, especially ones conducted using video chat has a better probability of getting hired.

Wherever you’re at in the job interview process, it’s important to remember that it takes the average person 24 weeks to apply for jobs in their field or industry, be selected for job interviews, and eventually find a role they’re hired for.

Job offers usually come between 24 hours and two weeks after a job interview, while rejected offers tend to come after five to eight weeks.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. How Do Job Seekers Search For Jobs? New Data On Applications, Interviews, And Job Offers. Accessed 7/24/21.

Zety. 2021 HR Statistics: Job Search, Hiring, Recruiting Interviews. Accessed 7/24/21.

Forbes. New Study Shows Age, Race And Gender Bias In The Interview Process. Accessed 7/24/21.

SHRM. Have You Seen These Gender Biases During Job Interviews? Accessed 7/24/21.

Phys.org. Women Are 30% Less Likely To Be Considered For A Hiring Process Than Men. Accessed 7/24/21.

Twain Employment. 8 Surprising Statistics About Interviews. Accessed 7/24/21.

Ladders. 95% Of People Try To Look Younger During Interviews — And Other Findings Of Ageism. Accessed 7/24/21.

Simplilearn. Job Interview Statistics And Trends For 2021. Accessed 7/24/21.

The Washington Post. With A Degree No Longer Enough, Job Candidates Are Told To Prove Their Skills In Tests. Accessed 7/24/21.

Job Adder. The Top Video Interview Tips Recruiters Need To Know. Accessed 7/24/21.