Posted by Here’s how to conduct a formal and informal interview summary, though their structures will differ slightly:
Formal Interview Summary:
- Purpose: Create a professional document for internal use (hiring manager, team) or for the candidate’s record.
- Content:
- Introduction: Briefly state the interview date, position applied for, and the candidate’s name.
- Candidate Background: Summarize the candidate’s work experience, relevant skills, and educational qualifications.
- Strengths: Highlight the candidate’s key strengths that align with the job requirements. Focus on specific examples from the interview where they demonstrated these strengths.
- Weaknesses (Optional): If relevant, mention any areas for improvement discussed during the interview. Frame it constructively and avoid negativity.
- Overall Impression: Summarize your overall assessment of the candidate’s suitability for the role. Consider their communication skills, personality fit, and enthusiasm.
- Next Steps: Mention any next steps in the hiring process, like a second interview or skills assessment.
- Tone: Professional, objective, and factual.
- Format: Can be a bulleted list or short paragraph format, depending on the level of detail needed.
Informal Interview Summary:
- Purpose: Capture key takeaways from a more casual conversation for your own reference or to share with colleagues involved in the hiring process (informal might involve multiple interviewers).
- Content:
- Introduction: Briefly state the date, the purpose of the interview (informational chat, initial screening), and the candidate’s name.
- Key Discussion Points: Summarize the main topics covered during the conversation. This could include the candidate’s background, career goals, or their insights into the industry.
- Candidate Impressions: Briefly describe your impressions of the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and potential fit within the team culture.
- Action Items (Optional): If any follow-up actions were decided, note them here (e.g., sending the candidate additional information or scheduling a formal interview).
- Tone: Conversational and concise.
- Format: Can be a brief bulleted list or a short paragraph.
For both types of summaries:
- Review your notes: Shortly after the interview, review your notes taken during the conversation. This will help you capture key points while they’re fresh in your mind.
- Focus on the relevant: Include information that pertains to the candidate’s qualifications and suitability for the role.
- Maintain confidentiality: Avoid including any private information not relevant to the job requirements.
By following these steps, you can create clear and informative interview summaries, useful for making informed hiring decisions.