What is a structured interview?

Definition

A structured interview is a job interview in which every candidate for a role is asked the same questions, in the same order, and each answer is scored against the same rubric decided before the interviews start. An unstructured interview, by contrast, lets each interviewer ask what they like and judge however they see fit.

Why it is used

• Fairness: everyone is judged on the same questions and standards
• Comparability: scores for different candidates mean the same thing
• Evidence: each score can point to the answer behind it
• Less bias from first impressions, small talk and similarity to the interviewer

What a rubric looks like

For each skill the role needs, the rubric says what a weak, solid and strong answer sounds like. For example, for problem solving: a weak answer describes the problem only; a solid one explains the steps taken; a strong one also explains why, what was checked, and what the result was.

Follow-up questions

Structured does not mean robotic. Good structured interviews allow follow-up questions to get a full answer, as long as every candidate gets the same chance to show the same skills.

How Octrahire uses it

Octrahire's AI interviewer asks every candidate for a role the same structured questions, follows up on each answer, and scores everyone against the same rubric. Each score shows the answer behind it, and a person makes the decision.