Structured Interviews in 2026: Why Consistency Matters in Candidate Evaluation
A structured interview uses a standardized questioning and scoring process to assess job-related competencies.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) defines a structured interview as an assessment method designed to measure job-related competencies by systematically asking candidates about past experiences or how they would respond to hypothetical situations.
Under OPM's approach, candidates are asked the same predetermined questions in the same order, and their responses are evaluated using the same rating scale and standards (U.S. Office of Personnel Management [OPM], n.d.-a).
(Important: This article summarizes OPM's structured-interview guidance. The materials discussed here concern federal personnel assessment and should not be treated as requirements for every private employer.)
What is a structured interview?
According to OPM, structured interviews are designed to measure job-related competencies by asking candidates questions about:
Their behavior in previous situations
How they would respond to hypothetical situations
What makes the interview structured is the standardized way the questions are asked and responses are evaluated.
Under OPM's approach:
Candidates receive the same predetermined questions
Questions are asked in the same order
Responses are evaluated using the same rating scale
The same standards for acceptable answers are used
OPM says this approach generally gives candidates equal opportunities to provide information and supports accurate and consistent assessment (OPM, n.d.-a).
Where do the interview questions come from?
OPM connects structured-interview questions to the job itself.
When selecting competencies to assess in an interview, OPM advises federal agencies to:
Conduct or review a job analysis.
Determine the tasks and competencies that are critical to the position.
Identify competencies required when someone enters the job.
Obtain confirmation of the selected competencies from subject-matter experts.
In OPM's framework, the competencies being evaluated are therefore connected to the requirements of the position.
What makes a structured interview question job-related?
OPM provides several recommendations for developing structured-interview questions.
The questions should be:
Reflective of the job
Tied to competencies identified through job analysis
Open-ended
Clear and concise
Written at an appropriate reading level
Free from unnecessary jargon
OPM also recommends developing questions that encourage candidates to describe the situation or task, the action they took, and the result.
This is commonly referred to as the STAR format: Situation or Task → Action → Result
How are candidates scored?
Standardized scoring is part of OPM's structured-interview approach.
OPM says candidate responses are evaluated using the same rating scale and the same standards for acceptable answers (OPM, n.d.-a).
The scoring framework is therefore established as part of the interview process and applied across candidates.
Do all candidates have to give similar answers?
No.
The standardization applies to the questions and evaluation method, not to the answers candidates provide.
Candidates may describe different experiences or approaches.
Under OPM's framework, what remains consistent is:
The question → the competency being assessed → the scoring criteria.
That allows different candidate responses to be evaluated through the same predetermined framework.
What does a structured interview process look like?
Based on the OPM guidance summarized here, the process can be understood as:
Analyze the job.
Identify critical job-related competencies.
Choose which competencies the interview will assess.
Develop predetermined questions tied to those competencies.
Establish rating scales and standards for evaluating responses.
Use the standardized questioning and scoring process with candidates.
This is how OPM structures interviews as part of its federal candidate-assessment framework.
From Interview Questions to Consistent Evaluation
OPM's structured-interview framework connects job analysis and competencies to predetermined questions, standardized rating scales, and common evaluation standards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a structured interview?
OPM defines a structured interview as an assessment method designed to measure job-related competencies through systematic questions about candidates' past behavior or proposed behavior in hypothetical situations.
Are candidates asked the same questions in a structured interview?
Under OPM's structured-interview approach, yes. Candidates are asked the same predetermined questions in the same order.
Are candidates scored the same way?
OPM's approach uses the same rating scale and standards for acceptable answers when evaluating candidate responses.
Should structured interview questions be connected to the job?
Yes. OPM says questions should reflect the job and be tied to competencies identified through job analysis.
How are competencies chosen for the interview?
OPM recommends reviewing job-analysis data to identify critical tasks and competencies, determining which competencies are required upon entry, and confirming the selected competencies with subject-matter experts.
Does every private employer have to use structured interviews?
No.
The OPM materials summarized in this article concern federal personnel assessment. They provide an example of a standardized interview approach but should not be presented as a universal requirement for private employers.
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Sources & References
U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (n.d.-a). Structured interviews.
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/structured-interviews/U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (n.d.-b). How do I select the competencies, or content areas, I want to assess with the structured interview?
https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/assessment-policy-faq/structured-interviews/how-do-i-select-the-competencies-or-content-areas-i-want-to-assess-with-the-structured-interview/U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (n.d.-c). How do I create structured interview questions?
https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/assessment-policy-faq/structured-interviews/how-do-i-create-structured-interview-questions/
