Interviews should assess candidate fit while also being developmental for students. Treat them as a chance to teach, evaluate, and set expectations.
Interview and hiring
Interview guidance for student employment supervisors
Before the interview
Confirm logistics
Date, time, platform (Workday-linked calendar invites are helpful), interviewers’ names, and estimated duration.
Offer accessibility options
Captions, questions in writing, extra response time.
Share format
Brief note on question types (behavioral, situational, availability). Share if the student will need anything (i.e a pen and paper, or work from their portfolio).
During the interview
Start warmly
A quick icebreaker (“How’s your semester?”) helps students relax.
Give grace
Pause time, allow note review, and invite students to ask for clarification.
Keep notes
Use an evaluation form to capture objective observations.
Use behavioral prompts
E.g., “Tell me about a time you worked on a team,” or “Describe how you managed competing deadlines.”
Probe for detail
If an answer sounds rehearsed or generic, ask for a concrete example: “Can you walk me through exactly what you did?”
After the interview
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Share the hiring timeline and next steps.
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Offer feedback when possible; it’s a development opportunity and reinforces professionalism.