What type of interview involves a structured approach with pre-planned questions to evaluate candidates?

A structured interview is a type of interview that follows a predetermined set of questions designed to assess candidates consistently and systematically. This approach helps ensure that each candidate is evaluated on the same criteria, which enhances the fairness and reliability of the selection process. The use of pre-planned questions allows the interviewer to maintain focus and clarity, provides a basis for comparison between candidates, and minimizes the influence of personal biases that may arise in more informal settings.

Furthermore, structured interviews are often backed by job analysis and competency frameworks, ensuring that the questions are relevant to the role being filled. This method not only improves the quality of the information gathered about each candidate but also increases the validity of the overall hiring decision.

In contrast, an unstructured interview lacks a specific format and typically allows for a more free-flowing discussion, which may lead to inconsistencies in how candidates are evaluated. Depth interviews focus more on exploring an individual's experiences and motivations in detail rather than following a strict question format. Informal interviews typically involve casual conversation and are not methodologically structured, making them less reliable for comparing candidates objectively.