How does an assessment interview work?

An assessment interview is structured and consists of three phases: Introduction, discussion and conclusion. The aim is to gain a clear and honest insight into how your organization works in an interview lasting around one hour in order to obtain valuable information for your further development.

1st entry

The first step is a short round of introductions. This is where the participants and assessors introduce themselves and explain what role they each play in the process. The focus here is on using the time together efficiently and laying the foundations for a productive discussion. As a representative of the organization, you can briefly outline who you are, what your role is in the company and which goals are particularly important to you. The assessors in turn explain their approach and the aim of the assessment: they want to use the discussion to gather the most precise findings possible that will help your organization move forward.

The introduction is important, but should remain as compact as possible so that there is enough time for the main part.

2. discussion

The discussion phase accounts for by far the largest part of the interview. This is where a dynamic question-and-answer game begins, in which the assessors ask specific questions and the participants give precise answers. The assessors have often made assumptions before the interview that they want to test in this phase. They have usually prepared a list of questions for this purpose, but it is flexible and leaves room for individual answers.

Important: The questions can sometimes surprise you, as they are often “holistic” and based on the principle of business excellence. Specifically, the assessors will ask about your expectations, goals, plans, measurement methods and results, as well as improvements that you have already implemented based on feedback. These questions aim to obtain a comprehensive picture of your working methods.

To keep the discussion efficient, you should answer precisely and as briefly as possible. If necessary, you can back up your answers with relevant documents or computer applications that you use in your day-to-day work. If a suitable document is missing, it is also possible to submit it after the interview. If there are topics that you are particularly proud of and that may not come up directly, you are welcome to address them yourself.

3rd degree

The final phase provides an opportunity for an open discussion and a round of feedback. Here, the assessors often summarize the most important findings from the interview. This phase is also a good time to address and clear up any misunderstandings.