Final answer:
A prescreening interview is typically 15 to 20 minutes long and conducted by HR or a recruiter, focusing on whether the candidate meets the job requirements before in-depth interviews.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of a prescreening interview can vary depending on the organization and the position being applied for. However, the most common features of a prescreening interview include being concise, typically around 15 to 20 minutes long, and are often conducted by an HR representative or a recruiter rather than upper management. The primary purpose of these interviews is to ascertain whether the candidate meets the basic qualifications required for the job before moving on to more in-depth interviews which may include multiple rounds or interviews with colleagues and line managers.
While prescreening interviews tend to be shorter, there's no strict rule that they are divided into several smaller interviews; this format is more common in later stages of the interview process. Instead, prescreening interviews serve as a way for the employer to quickly determine if there is a potential fit, potentially avoiding bias by focusing on the specific requirements of the job.