Interviews can be daunting for both interviewees and interviewers. A single error can make the whole process a failure, making it crucial to manage the potential pitfalls and ensure a successful outcome. An interview checklist template would be useful to keep this from happening. Check out the one we have here at Boardmix. It is easy to learn and use and will guarantee the success of any interview you conduct.
What Is an Interview Checklist?
An interview checklist is a comprehensive guide outlining the tasks essential for a successful interview. Beyond a list of questions, it encompasses various elements. It catalogs the inquiries you must pose and underscores the pre-interview preparation tasks that warrant completion. Additionally, the checklist underscores the key information to impart to each candidate, ensuring a well-organized and informative interview process.
Why use an interview checklist?
Using an interview checklist can minimize the risks of making mistakes during the interview. With everything laid out in an organized plan, you can go through each task sequentially and make sure that nothing is skipped or forgotten. It also helps you stay focused and keeps you from getting off track during the preparation and interview.
When writing the questions to ask applicants, an interview checklist template gives structure to the interview, making it easier to evaluate the responses afterward. By using the same format and sequence of questions with all the interviewees, comparing each of them will be a much more efficient process.
Employing an interview checklist template offers the added advantage of substantial time savings. Instead of grappling with potential omissions, you can seamlessly navigate your list, methodically checking off each task. This systematic approach prevents tangential queries during the interview and ensures timely completion.
Utilizing a preformatted interview checklist template is recommended for those uncertain about checklist content. This ready-to-use resource encompasses standard interview tasks. Tailoring the list to encompass specific needs and marking them as completed enhances its adaptability and utility.
What makes a good interview checklist?
A good interview checklist covers everything necessary for a successful and efficient interview. This does not just cover the interview properly but also the period before and after the interview. As such, it could be divided into separate sections before, during, and after.
Job Description: A clear understanding of the role you're interviewing for is crucial. This includes tasks, responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications.
Candidate Information: This includes the candidate's resume, application form, portfolio, or any other relevant documents that provide an overview of their background and experience.
Interview Questions: Prepare a list of relevant questions that assess the candidate's skills, experience, attitude, and cultural fit. It's beneficial to include a mix of technical questions, behavioral questions, and situational questions.
Evaluation Criteria: Define what constitutes a successful answer for each question. This helps in maintaining consistency and fairness during the assessment.
Note-taking Space: Leave ample space for note-taking during the interview. These notes can be invaluable when comparing candidates later on.
Post-Interview Actions: Include steps to be taken after the interview such as sending a follow-up email, conducting reference checks or scheduling second interviews.
Legal Considerations: Ensure your checklist complies with legal guidelines related to hiring practices in your location to avoid discriminatory questioning.
Once the interviews are over, there are also plenty of things to do, like going through each applicant's responses, scoring them based on these responses, and ultimately picking the successful candidate. All these tasks must be taken into account in a good interview checklist.
Best practices for using an interview checklist template
Primarily, securing an exceptional interview checklist template is paramount. Notably, Boardmix offers a remarkably adaptable template, catering to a myriad of interview types. To maximize its efficacy, it's advisable to possess a well-defined interview plan.
Customization: While a template provides a basic structure, it should be customized to fit the specific needs of the role and the company. This includes modifying questions, evaluation criteria, and any other elements to align with your unique requirements.
Preparation: Review the checklist before each interview to refresh your memory on what needs to be covered. This can help you stay focused and ensure that no important points are missed.
Training: If multiple people are conducting interviews, train them on how to use the checklist correctly. This ensures consistency in its application across all interviews.
Active Listening: While it's important to follow the checklist, don't let it distract you from actively listening to the candidate's responses. The checklist is a guide, not a script.
Note-Taking: Use the checklist as a tool for note-taking. Jot down key points or observations next to each item as they come up during the interview.
Evaluation: After each interview, take some time to review your notes and evaluate the candidate based on the criteria in your checklist.
Review and Update: Over time, review and update your checklist based on feedback and changes in hiring needs or company policies.
Examples of Interview Checklist Templates
University Admission Interview Checklist for Undergraduate Applicants
Pre-Interview Preparation:
- Review the applicant’s application form and personal statement.
- Prepare questions based on the applicant’s academic interests and extracurricular activities.
- Arrange interview slots and notify the applicant.
Interview Structure:
-
Introduction (5 minutes):
- Greet the applicant.
- Introduce yourself and provide an overview of the interview process.
-
Academic Background (10 minutes):
- Discuss the applicant’s high school courses and grades.
- Ask about favorite subjects and why they interest the applicant.
- Inquire about any advanced courses or special projects undertaken.
-
Motivation and Goals (10 minutes):
- Why do you want to attend our university?
- What are your academic and career aspirations?
- How do you see yourself contributing to our campus community?
-
Personal Traits and Skills (10 minutes):
- Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
- How do you manage your time effectively?
- What qualities do you think are essential for success at university?
-
Questions from the Applicant (10 minutes):
- Allow the applicant to ask questions about the university, programs, or campus life.
-
Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Explain the next steps in the admission process.
- Thank the applicant for their time.
Post-Interview:
- Complete evaluation forms with notes and impressions.
- Compare the applicant’s profile against admission criteria.
- Submit recommendations to the admissions committee.
Exit Interview Checklist for Departing Employees
Pre-Interview Preparation:
- Review the employee’s tenure and contributions.
- Prepare a list of questions to understand the reasons for leaving.
- Arrange a private and comfortable setting for the interview.
Interview Structure:
-
Introduction (5 minutes):
- Thank the employee for their service.
- Explain the purpose of the exit interview.
-
Reasons for Leaving (10 minutes):
- Why did you decide to leave the company?
- Was there a specific incident or a series of events that led to your decision?
- Did you discuss your concerns with your manager before deciding to leave?
-
Job Satisfaction (10 minutes):
- What did you enjoy most about your job?
- What did you enjoy least?
- Were your job expectations met?
-
Compensation and Benefits (10 minutes):
- How satisfied were you with your compensation and benefits?
- Were there any specific areas where you felt the company could improve?
-
Suggestions for Improvement (10 minutes):
- What suggestions do you have for improving the workplace?
- How can the company retain employees better?
-
Future Contact and Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Discuss the possibility of future contact or rehiring.
- Thank the employee for their feedback and contributions.
Post-Interview:
- Summarize key points and feedback from the interview.
- Share insights with relevant management for action.
- Document the interview for future reference and improvement strategies.
Job Interview Checklist for a Software Developer Position
Pre-Interview Preparation:
- Review the candidate’s resume and cover letter.
- Prepare a list of technical and behavioral questions.
- Set up necessary software for coding tests (e.g., IDE, code sharing platforms).
- Arrange for interview panels (technical team, HR, etc.).
- Test technical equipment (laptop, projector, internet connection).
Interview Structure:
-
Introduction (5 minutes):
- Welcome the candidate.
- Briefly introduce the company and the team.
- Explain the interview process.
-
Technical Assessment (30 minutes):
- Coding Test: Provide a problem to solve on a whiteboard or online platform.
- System Design: Ask the candidate to design a system or architecture for a given problem.
- Debugging: Present a piece of code with bugs and ask the candidate to find and fix them.
-
Behavioral Questions (15 minutes):
- Describe a challenging project you worked on. How did you handle it?
- How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?
- Describe a situation where you had to work under a tight deadline.
-
Questions from the Candidate (10 minutes):
- Allow the candidate to ask questions about the role, team, or company.
-
Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Explain the next steps in the hiring process.
- Thank the candidate for their time.
Post-Interview:
- Collect feedback from all interviewers.
- Evaluate the candidate against job requirements.
- Make a decision and communicate it to the candidate.
Steps to Use Interview Checklist Templates on Boardmix
To use these Interview Checklist templates, you can navigate to the workspace of Boardmix, an online whiteboard that provides various free templates. This step-by-step guide will help you use the Interview Checklist template effectively to streamline your recruitment process.
Step 1: Log in to Your Boardmix Account
To get started, log into your Boardmix account using your credentials. If you're new to Boardmix, create an account by following their easy sign-up process.
Step 2: Search and Choose Interview Checklist Template
Once you've logged in, navigate to the 'Templates' section available on the platform's main page. Here, you'll find a plethora of ready-to-use templates categorized under various topics, use the search bar for a quicker find.
Step 3: Customize and Edit Your Interview Checklist Form
After selecting the template, it will open in a new Boardmix workspace. The pre-designed format typically includes fields for candidate details, interviewers' names, scoring sections for various parameters, and comment boxes for detailed feedback.
Step 4: Save Your Work, Share and Collaborate
Boardmix will save your work online anytime. Once you have customized the template to your satisfaction, you can then share it with other interview panel members.
Boardmix's collaboration feature allows multiple people to view and edit the feedback form simultaneously in real-time. This way, each interviewer can easily add their feedback after their interaction with the candidate. All data is stored safely on Boardmix, making it a reliable tool for maintaining records over time.
How do you write an interview checklist?
Making an interview checklist is just like writing any kind of list. Just list the tasks you need to accomplish before conducting the interview, followed by a list of questions to ask each candidate during the interview, and wrap it up with the post-interview tasks.
To write the most effective interview checklist, you need to go through it several times. You might remember some important items during subsequent passes, which might prove critical to the interview's success.
Again, if you want an easier time, you can always use a reliable interview checklist template, just like the one at Boardmix, that you can access by clicking at the beginning of the post.
