A simple framework for interviews that are consistent, fair, and fast, and that candidates actually enjoy.
Use the same structure every time. Candidates know what to expect, and you get comparable evidence.
Introduce yourself and your role, explain the format, and put them at ease. A relaxed candidate gives better answers.
Your prepared questions for your focus area, with follow-ups. This is where the evidence comes from.
Their questions for you. What they ask, and how, is useful information too.
Complete your scorecard on your own, before talking to anyone else on the panel.
Put your work away and give them your full attention. Be on time, be welcoming, and remember you are representing the company.
The best predictor of how someone will work is how they have worked. Ask for real examples, then dig in.
"You're comfortable with tight deadlines, right?"
"Tell me about the tightest deadline you've worked against. What happened?"
"What would you do if a client was unhappy?"
"Tell me about a time a client was unhappy with your work. What did you do?"
"Have you managed a budget?"
"Walk me through the largest budget you've managed and how you tracked it."
Accepting the first answer and moving on.
"Tell me more about that." "What was your part?" "How did you measure success?"
Rule of thumb: the candidate should do about 80% of the talking. If you're talking more than they are, you're pitching, not interviewing.
Plus the editable Word template.