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Data Reveals: The Industries with the Easiest Interviews
The job interview process can already be a difficult and anxiety-inducing experience for some, but certain industries are known to be more extreme than others.
With 900 Google searches being made each month for ‘job interview advice’, Reboot, a digital PR agency, was intrigued to discover which sectors are among the worst, and which are easier.
The research
To determine which sectors have the easiest and hardest interviews, we gathered a record of all NASDAQ listings to use as a seed list for Glassdoor lookups. Companies were noted by industry, sector and associated market cap. Using this information, we were able to file the top 10 companies by market cap for each sector.
Once gathered, the relevant Glassdoor average interview difficulty was found for each company and ranked to discover the sectors with the hardest and easiest interviews. A weighted average for average interview difficulty for each sector was made using the count of interview reviews per company as weights.
Which industries have the easiest job interviews?
◼ Transportation – 2.48 out of 5
Taking the lead as the job sector with the easiest interviews is transportation. With an average difficulty rating of 2.48, interviews for this sector can be seen as a breeze. When it comes to the process, applicants can expect a standard set of questions from organisational knowledge to open and behavioural questions, with technical questions being where interviewees struggle the most.
According to reviews, the transportation companies with the easiest interviews include CSX with a difficulty rating of 2.9, FedEx with an average rating of 2.5, and Old Dominion Freight Line with an average difficulty score of 2.2.
◼ Consumer Services – 2.60 out of 5
Following behind in second place with an average interview difficulty score of 2.6 are roles within the consumer services sector. Jobs in this industry refer to those where an intangible service is provided to a customer, such as hospitality, entertainment, or leisure.
The companies with the easiest interviews in this sector, with an average rating of 2.2, are Walmart, Netflix (2.9), and McDonald’s (1.8).
◼ Materials – 2.78 out of 5
According to our research, materials have the third easiest interviews, averaging 2.78 out of five for interview difficulty. The materials industry includes companies involved in the discovery, development, and processing of raw materials like gold, oil, and stone. When it comes to jobs in this sector, interviewees were quick to mention how most questions pertained to their experience so, as long as you have knowledge on the roles you apply for, the interview should be a cakewalk.
Among the companies with easy interviews in the materials industries are Sinopec (2.7), ConocoPhillips (2.8), and NextEra Energy (2.6).
◼ Miscellaneous – 2.79 out of 5
Trailing just behind the materials industry are companies in the miscellaneous sector, with an average score of 2.79 out of five for interview difficulty. This covers many industries, from those in photography, banking and even pet care services.
Companies within this sector with the easiest interviews are Automatic Data Processing Inc and Mastercard with a rating of 2.9, and Fidelity National Information Services with a rating of 2.7.
◼ Capital Goods – 2.81 out of 5
In fifth place is the capital goods industry, with an average rating of 2.81, according to interviewees. Capital goods refer to jobs where products and services are used by firms to produce other goods – for example, equipment, machinery, and specialised products.
Among the companies said to have “easy” interviews are Tesla and Toyota with 2.9 each, Boeing with an average rating of 2.8, and Lockheed Martin with the lowest score of 2.6.
◼ Public Utilities – 2.83 out of 5
Public utilities take sixth place out of the industries analysed, with an average interview difficulty score of 2.83 out of five. This sector refers to jobs relating to electricity, natural gas, and water supply.
According to reviews, the public utility companies with the easiest interviews include T-Mobile with a rating of 2.7 and Verizon and Vodafone with a rating of 2.9.
◼ Healthcare – 2.86 out of 5
The healthcare industry is in seventh place, with an average interview difficulty rating of 2.86 out of five. When it comes to healthcare, employers have a strong focus on people they know they can trust with the lives of their patients. This comes down to them wanting to know more about interviewees experience, knowledge and personality, making it easier for people in this industry with all the years of experience required to become certified.
Contributing to their low difficulty score is UnitedHealth Group, who received an average score of 2.7 from previous interviewees and Abbott and Johnson & Johnson, both with scores of 2.9 out of five.
◼ Finance – 2.88 out of 5
Trailing behind by just .02 is the finance sector, scoring 2.88 on average for interview difficulty. American bank and business company Wells Fargo contributes to the average score with a rating of 2.8 and the Bank of America with an average score of 2.7. Just above with a rating of 3.0 is American Express.
◼ Consumer durables – 2.89 out of 5
Rounding off the sectors with the easiest interviews is consumer durables, with a difficulty score of 2.89 out of five. This sector refers to jobs where products are expected to last at least three years and do not need to be purchased often – for example, household appliances, electricals, jewellery, cars, and home furnishings.
When it comes to companies in this sector with easy interviews, Ball Corporation has a difficulty rating of just 2.8 out of five. Generac Power Systems have an average difficulty rating of 2.5, and Mohawk Industries has a rating of 2.3.
Which job sectors have the hardest interviews?
◼ Technology – 3.10 out of 5
According to reviews, the job sector with the hardest interviews is the technology industry, with an average interview difficulty rating of 3.10 out of a possible five. Interviews in this sector are said to test participants' abilities to deal with stress and anxiety and skills and knowledge, which makes it unsurprisingly hard.
According to their previous interviewees, Google is among the companies contributing to this high score with an average difficulty score of 3.3. Following closely behind is NVIDIA with a rating of 3.2, and Adobe with a rating of 3.0.
◼ Consumables: 3.0 out of 5
With an average interview difficulty score of 3.0, the consumables sector (also known as consumer non-durables) has the second hardest interviews, according to reviews. This sector involves the selling of goods which generally don't last long, such as food and household items like cleaning products.
According to our research, companies in the consumables sector with the hardest interviews include Anheuser-Busch (a brewery) with an interview difficulty rating of 3.3 and Diageo, the world’s largest producers of spirits and beers, with a difficulty rating of 3.1, followed by Procter & Gamble with 3.0.
◼ Energy – 2.96 out of 5
With a score of 2.96 out of five, the energy sector ranks the third hardest for prospective candidates looking to break into the industry. When it comes to jobs in this sector, interviewees made it clear that you really need to know your stuff to combat any potential questions thrown your way and have the right skills and training.
According to reviews, TOTAL or Duke Energy Corporation are among the easier energy companies to interview for in the industry, with a rating of 2.8 from past interviewees and ABB with a rating of 2.9.
The companies with the easiest job interviews
With an average rating of 1.8 out of 5, everyone's favourite fast-food giant, McDonald's, is crowned the company with the “easiest” job interviews according to analysis of previous employee reviews via Glassdoor.
Following closely behind with a score of 1.9 out of five is the United Parcel Service (UPS for short), while JD Sports Fashion is slightly raising the difficulty with a 2 out of five.
The Home Depot, Old Dominion Freight and Walmart all have an identical score of 2.2 when it comes to interview difficulty.
Rounding off the top 10 "easiest" interviews are Mohawk Industries (2.3), América Móvil (2.4) and Costco Wholesale (2.5).
The companies with the hardest job interviews
With an average rating of 3.5 out of 5, Booking Holdings holds the hardest job interviews according to analysis of previous employee reviews via Glassdoor.
Google, Anheuser-Busch, and Procter & Gamble are all in joint second place, with a score of 3.3 out of five. Although they all exist within completely different industries, these companies are renowned for tricky interviews.
Completing the top 10 hardest interviews are Diageo, BP, and Alibaba Group, each with a score of 3.1 out of five.
Methodology:
1. Reboot Digital Marketing gathered a record of all NASDAQ listings to use as a seed list for Glassdoor lookups.
2. Companies were noted by industry, sector and associated market cap. Using this information, the top 10 companies by market cap for each sector were filed into an Excel sheet.
3. Once gathered, the relevant Glassdoor average interview difficulty was found for each company and ranked to discover the sectors with the hardest and easiest interviews. Where the company in question was not obvious, Google search was used to ascertain the relevant company website, which is then listed on the Glassdoor company page.
4. A weighted average for average interview difficulty for each sector was made using the count of interview reviews per company as weights.
