Interviewing & screening practices
Better questions, sharper scorecards, faster scheduling, and screening processes that surface real signal. Practical guides for running interviews that actually tell you who can do the job, written by recruiters who do this every day.
Latest in Interviewing & screening practices
Why talent evaluation goes sideways more often than the rubric admits
Most talent evaluation problems don't come from a bad rubric. They come from criteria that change shape between intake and debrief, and evidence that doesn't travel between the people deciding.
20 communication skills interview questions and how to score them
"Are you a good communicator?" is the laziest question in interviewing. The 20 questions here actually evaluate the specific sub-skills that make someone communicate well at work.
20 conflict resolution interview questions that surface how someone actually handles conflict
Most conflict resolution questions get the same rehearsed answer: 'we talked it out and found common ground.' These 20 questions make that answer unavailable.
20 leadership interview questions that work for non-managers too
Leadership isn't a manager title. It's a set of behaviors you can interview for at any level. Here are 20 questions that surface them — for first-time managers, senior ICs, and execs.
20 panel interview questions that actually triangulate (and how to score them)
Most panel interview questions are a single interviewer's question asked in a louder room. The questions that work in a panel format do something only a panel can — generate signal across multiple criteria at once.
20 problem-solving interview questions and what good answers actually sound like
Most problem-solving questions test whether the candidate can sound smart under pressure. The ones that matter test how they think when the answer isn't already in their head.
20 teamwork interview questions that don't sound like every other teamwork question
"Are you a team player?" gets you a yes from everyone, including the people who aren't. The questions that actually evaluate teamwork are the ones the candidate hasn't already rehearsed.
Panel interviews: when they actually work, when they don't, and what's replacing them
Panel interviews were designed to reduce bias by triangulating multiple interviewers. In practice they usually amplify the loudest panelist's opinion and produce a worse candidate experience. Here's the version that actually works.
Structured interview questions: the 25 that actually work and the rubric to score them
Structure isn't about formality. It's about asking every candidate the same questions in the same order so the scores are comparable. Here are the questions that build a structured loop from scratch.
Structured vs. unstructured interviews: what the research says and what most teams still get wrong
Structured interviews outperform unstructured ones on nearly every measurable axis — predictive validity, fairness, legal defensibility. Most teams know this and still run unstructured. Here's why, and what a structured loop actually looks like.
What is a hiring manager? The role, the decisions, and why software for them keeps missing
"Hiring manager" is treated as a job title but it's actually a process role — the person who owns one open seat. Most recruiting tools confuse the two, which is why most hiring managers hate the tools they're handed.
A reference check form template that verifies what your screening already told you
Most reference check form templates are built to discover. Here's one organized by what each question is verifying, plus the framing every other guide skips.
The dos and don'ts of social media background checks most guides skip
Most social media background check guides treat the activity as a given. Here's the prior question, the legal floor, and what to fix one stage upstream.
Why your interview notes template was built for an interview that doesn't exist anymore
Most interview notes advice solves the wrong job. Here's what the note is actually for in a stack that already records and ranks the evidence.
Why your interview rubric isn't getting opened during interviews
Most interview rubric advice fixes the doc and ignores the workflow. Here is why the rubric and the evidence have to live in the same place.
How to check if a freelancer is good before hiring them (Truffle's process)
Stop hiring freelancers based on polished proposals and borrowed portfolios. This is the 20-minute screening process that marketplace operators and agencies use to separate the real ones from the noise, without a single discovery call.
The best interview questions to ask candidates (and why most lists get it wrong)
The only interview questions guide that tells you what to ask, how to score the answers, and which popular questions to stop using immediately.
What is a personality hire (and when does it actually work)?
TikTok made "personality hire" a meme. Here's why it keeps happening and how to screen for likability without skipping the part where you check if they can do the work.
What is a video interview? Types, how they work, and why companies use them
A video interview is a screening format where candidates respond to interview questions on video. There are two types: live (both people present) and one-way (candidates record answers on their own schedule). This post explains how each works, when companies use them, and what to expect as a candidate.
A practical plan for hiring manager interview training
Companies spend thousands sourcing candidates, then hand them off to hiring managers who've never been trained to interview. The cost of that gap is bad hires, legal risk, and broken candidate experience.
Active sourcing gets candidates. Your screening process loses them.
Active sourcing finds candidates. Slow screening loses them. Here's how to fix the conversion gap most teams ignore.
Candidate recruitment is broken. The fix isn't more sourcing.
Most candidate recruitment strategies obsess over sourcing. The real bottleneck is screening, and it's costing you the best matches.
How to screen candidates without losing your mind (or your best matches)
You have 150 candidates for one open position. Your hiring manager wants a shortlist by Friday. If you phone-screened every one of them, you'd need 30+ hours. You don't have 30 hours. You probably don't have 10.
One-way interview questions that actually reveal candidate fit
Most recruiters paste their phone screen script into a one-way interview and wonder why every response sounds the same. The format changed. Your questions didn't.
Video interview tips for employers that actually improve results
You added video interviews to your hiring process three months ago. Completion rates are hovering around 40%. Two candidates left Glassdoor reviews calling the experience "impersonal" and "confusing." Now you're wondering if phone screens were actually better.
What are asynchronous interviews and do they work in 2026?
An asynchronous interview is a one-way interview format in which candidates answer pre-set questions without meeting an interviewer in real time. Their responses are submitted for review later, usually through video, audio, or text.
40 entry-level interview questions that actually reveal who can do the job
Most entry-level interview questions test whether someone can rehearse an answer. These 40 questions test whether they can actually do the work.
11 signs you're interviewing a red flag candidate
Here are the 10 signs you're interviewing a red flag candidate.
15 video interview templates for hiring success
Standardize your interviews with these 15 templates designed for one-way video formats. Clear questions, evaluation criteria, and role-specific examples included.
20 common interview mistakes made by the interviewer (and how to avoid them)
What candidates should wear on a one-way or Zoom video interview, and how hiring teams can share attire guidance that keeps the focus on answers.
7 proven strategies to handle too many job applicants
Getting flooded with applications sounds like a good problem; until it slows down your entire hiring process. This guide walks through seven proven strategies to help you screen faster, stay organized, and hire better when applicant volume spikes.
A simple resume screening checklist to save you time
Learn how to screen resumes quickly and objectively with this practical checklist. Avoid bias, spot red flags, and find the right candidates without wasting time.
Can you record a job interview? What the law says, why it matters, and how to do it right
The root causes of the restaurant labor shortage, its impact on hiring, and practical solutions from screening tools to retention strategies.
Essential tips for acing your one-way video interview
One-way video interviews feel strange for a reason. No live interviewer, no feedback, just you and a camera. But with the right preparation, you can turn an awkward experience into a real advantage. Here’s how to show up confident, polished, and ready to move forward.
Follow-up email template after an async video interview
Most candidates don’t follow up after async video interviews. That’s exactly why you should. This guide covers follow-up strategies, timing, and 7 ready-to-use templates to stand out.
Here's how to perform an interview
Learn how to conduct effective interviews with advanced questioning techniques, thoughtful screening, and strategies for assessing cultural fit.
How knockout questions work (and why Truffle automates them for you)
Most applicants don’t get rejected by people; they get filtered out by knockout questions. This guide explains how to use them well, and how Truffle automates the process so you never waste time on the wrong fit.
How many rounds of interviews is normal?
A hiring manager's guide to the WHO interview methodology: scorecards, structured interviews, and how to screen for outcomes instead of gut feel.
How to create an interview scorecard (with free template)
Learn how interview scorecards can improve hiring by standardizing evaluations, reducing bias, and enabling data-driven decisions. Includes templates and best practices.
How to create the best hiring assessments
Discover the best hiring assessments to improve your hiring process. Learn how AI, structured job analysis, and real-world job simulations can help you hire.
How to find candidates who can make tough decisions
The goal is to find someone who doesn’t just make decisions but makes smart decisions. Someone who’s thoughtful, deliberate, and confident when it comes to making the calls that matter.
How to give interview feedback without burning bridges
Knowing how to tell someone they didn’t get the job is just as important as telling someone they did. This guide covers best practices and real-world interview feedback examples to help you deliver decisions with clarity and professionalism without burning bridges.
How to make one-way video interviews fully accessible
Make your one-way interviews inclusive without slowing hiring. Learn ADA and WCAG-aligned tactics; captions, screen-reader support, flexible timing, and clear accommodation workflows.
How to nail the intake call with a hiring manager (+ questions)
In this article, I’m going to walk you through how to absolutely crush your intake call, set the foundation for a smooth recruiting process.
How to request availability for an interview (+ email template)
A smooth scheduling process is a sign of a smooth operation, and that’s exactly what you want to convey with your interview availability email.
One-way video interview invitation email templates
One-way video interviews only work if candidates actually complete them. These email templates are designed to boost response rates, reduce confusion, and make your process feel more human.
Situational interview questions that AI can’t answer convincingly
As AI-polished answers flood the hiring process, situational interview questions remain one of the few tools that reliably reveal authentic thinking.
The complete guide to hiring a virtual assistant in 2026
Hiring a virtual assistant can save you dozens of hours a week...but only if you do it right. This guide breaks down the 22 most important tips for hiring a VA who actually delivers value.
The ultimate guide to the WHO interview method
A hiring manager’s guide to the WHO interview methodology: scorecards, structured interviews, and how to screen for outcomes instead of gut feel.
The ultimate guide to video interview questions
Master the most common video interview questions and learn how to stand out on camera.
The ultimate interview schedule template & best practices
Learn how to create an effective interview schedule using templates and best practices. Streamline your hiring process and improve candidate experience.
Top interview questions for assessing flexibility in candidates
Here are five thoughtful flexibility interview questions that get to the heart of how a candidate has demonstrated resilience.
Video script examples for introducing async interviews to candidates
A clear, thoughtful intro can make or break a one-way interview. Use these 15 ready-made scripts to welcome candidates, set expectations, and streamline your screening process.
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Recruiting was built around documents instead of people. The Talent Architect is where we redesign the foundation. Subscribe for new essays, interviews, and frameworks.
