What is an Interview Evaluation Form?

During the interview process for a new job candidate, an interview evaluation form is a document that is filled out the interviewer or hiring manager. During and after the interview, the interviewer will be required to fill out the form, answering specific questions in order to determine whether the job candidate is a good fit for the position. Some companies will use a standard interview evaluation form, or there are a variety of free templates available online. Questions about appearance, personality traits demonstrated, such as assertiveness, leadership, or maturity, required skills for the job, knowledge of the position, and education, training, and future career goals, to name a few, could be included on the interview evaluation form.

The interview evaluation form is usually not shown to the job candidate; instead, it is kept and shared as a reference among those who make hiring decisions, such as those in human resources. For a variety of reasons, the evaluation form is beneficial. For starters, it allows the interviewer to take organized notes during the interview, making it easier to recall specific facts and impressions after speaking with several candidates. Furthermore, because most interviews are conducted with only one or two people at most, it allows people who were unable to attend the interview to review the form and gain a better understanding of the job candidate; it also helps document that the interview was conducted in a fair and appropriate manner, should any questions arise later.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the job candidate can add questions to the interview evaluation form. All questions pertaining to various departments, skills, or qualifications can then be asked a single interviewer, and the job candidate’s responses can be reviewed anyone who contributed a question. Even if the evaluation form will only be reviewed one person after the interview, it is still a useful tool for evaluating the interview and preparing for a second interview if necessary. The form can show areas where the candidate needs to improve in order to be considered for the job, as well as areas where more information is needed.

When an employee is leaving the company, some people use an interview evaluation form for an exit interview. This allows the employee to be open and honest about his or her experiences working for the company, as well as make any suggestions for improvement. The company could then use this information to make changes or simply keep the employee’s file for future reference.