What is the primary purpose of a structured interview in evaluating job candidates?

The primary purpose of a structured interview in evaluating job candidates is to assess job-related competencies and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). This interview format is designed with a consistent set of questions that directly relate to the qualifications necessary for the job in question. By using a structured approach, interviewers can systematically evaluate candidates based on the same criteria, which enhances the fairness and reliability of the assessment process.

Structured interviews help ensure that the evaluation focuses on relevant job-related factors, minimizing biases that can arise from personal characteristics or informal interactions. This approach allows for better comparisons among candidates, as their responses to the same questions can be analyzed in a uniform way.

In contrast, the other options either focus on aspects that are less relevant to the structured interview’s primary objective or introduce elements that may complicate the assessment process.