Patterned Interviews

As an interview format, patterned interviews usually are considered the most reliable method of gathering information. Patterned interviews ask each candidate a carefully crafted set of identical questions in the same way and in the same order. Generally, ad hoc follow-up questions are discouraged, because information gathered in this manner is thought to prejudice the interviewer's opinion of the candidate. Furthermore, candidates are discouraged from volunteering information outside the scope of the patterned interview and such information, if received, often is eliminated from the candidate's interview file.

Strengths Because of a rigid adherence to form and structure, candidate qualifications gathered through patterned interviews easily can be compared because the questions asked of all candidates are identical.

Weaknesses It is extremely difficult to ensure identical use of a patterned interview across a large pool of candidates—and it is virtually impossible to avoid asking follow-up questions, if only to seek clarification of vague statements. There also is the possibility that important, even crucial, information about a candidate can be lost because of the rigidity of the patterned interview.