Evaluate and Make a Selection

Once you’ve completed the interview process, you need to evaluate the evidence concerning the candidates. This process will differ in complexity and length based on the number of candidates interviewed. The basic idea, however, is to assess the candidates against the criteria that you have previously decided were the most important.

• Evaluate the evidence. A three-tiered rating scale may be helpful here:
  • Little or no evidence (-)
  • Some evidence (=)
  • Meets the criteria (+)
• Select the candidate who most closely matches your needs; or initiate another candidate search if none of the candidates meets your needs.

When you are faced with a large number of applicants, you may wish to use a worksheet or flipchart.

If a panel interview is used, ideally, the entire panel will be in consensus regarding the candidate selected. Consensus usually comes about through the sharing of observations and examples from the interview. Sometimes a panel is not in consensus initially; however, a group consensus usually can be reached after sharing the rationale behind differing candidate assessments.