What is a semi-structured interview?

A semi-structured interview combines a fixed set of core questions, asked to every candidate for consistency, with open-ended follow-up questions that let the interviewer explore a candidate's specific answers in more depth.

What's the difference between a semi-structured and an unstructured interview?

A semi-structured interview starts from a fixed set of questions every candidate answers, then allows follow-ups. An unstructured interview has no fixed questions at all, making it more conversational but much harder to compare fairly across candidates.

When should you use a semi-structured interview?

It works well when you need to compare candidates fairly on a core set of criteria but also want room to explore role-specific skills, judgment, or experience that a rigid script might miss. It's a common choice for mid-to-senior roles where both consistency and depth matter.

Are semi-structured interviews reliable for hiring decisions?

Research on interview validity generally finds that more structure improves how well an interview predicts actual job performance. Semi-structured formats aim to capture most of that reliability while still allowing the flexibility a fully structured interview doesn't have.

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