Structured interviews, sometimes called patterned interviews, are a straightforward approach to candidate assessment. In this method, the interviewer asks all candidates a set of standardized questions, making it easier to evaluate and compare them objectively. The primary goal of a structured interview is to identify the job skills essential to the position.
Crafting insightful questions for structured interviews requires a meticulous analysis of the job role to determine the core competencies needed. Interviewers often collaborate with department heads to ensure that vital skills and qualifications are covered comprehensively. These may encompass verbal and written communication, decision-making, time management, honesty, team-building, and interpersonal skills. Questions in structured interviews can be situational, observational, or personal, tailored to the specific requirements of the position and interviewer preferences.
Benefits of Structured Interviews:
- Legitimacy and Reliability: Structured interviews are consistent and fair, providing a reliable basis for candidate evaluation.
- Control Over Interview Flow: The standardized format ensures a consistent flow of questions and responses.
- Addressing Candidate Concerns: Structured interviews allow candidates to address their specific concerns or highlight additional qualifications.
- Equal Opportunity: By employing the same set of questions for all candidates, structured interviews promote equal opportunity.
- Consistent Evaluation: Similar competencies are evaluated for each candidate, ensuring reliability in the assessment process.
- Reduced Interviewer Nervousness: Pre-written questions alleviate interviewer nervousness and ensure a smoother interview process.
- Time and Cost Efficiency: Structured interviews optimize interviewer time and minimize company expenses associated with the hiring process.
If essential information about your qualifications hasn’t been addressed during the interview, take the opportunity to communicate it when asked if you have any questions. Don’t be surprised if the interviewer takes notes during the interview; this is standard practice to facilitate comparison among candidates.
A powerful resume = job interviews = job offers! “If You Are Not Happy With the Results Your Resume is Generating Then Act Now to Change Your Future”
We look forward to partnering with you in the future,
Candace Davies ACCC, CRW, CIC, CPRW, CEIP, CECC
Review Candace’s credentials here.