Interview Notes
Two weeks after an interview, memory keeps only vibes. Same-day notes keep the evidence — and make the decision defensible.
What's Included
- Strengths observed
- Relevant experience
- Role fit
- Concerns / risks
- Recommendation
Best For
One copy per interview, written up immediately after — doubles as the candidate evaluation.
Target Audience
Small teams interviewing a handful of candidates a year.
How to Customize
Score evidence against the job description, not against other candidates' charm. The recommendation section should name the next step.
When to Use
Write it up immediately after every interview, one copy per conversation.
Full Document Preview
Preview the actual editable ZuffSuite document.
OPERATIONS / NOTES
Interview Notes: Tomás Rivera — Bookkeeping Associate
What the candidate actually said and how they performed — written up the same day, while it's still fresh. One copy per interview. This doubles as the evaluation: the recommendation section is the decision input.
Candidate | Role | Interview | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Tomás Rivera | Bookkeeping Associate | Second interview (panel) | September 30, 2026 |
Strengths observed
Walked through a full bank reconciliation from memory, including where errors usually hide.
Two years across 9 client ledgers at a two-person firm — comparable context to ours.
Asked about the close calendar before we mentioned it.
Relevant experience
QuickBooks Online certified; has migrated two clients off spreadsheets.
Handled receipt-chasing directly with clients — polite but persistent, in his words.
Role fit
Requirement | Evidence |
|---|---|
Reconciliation depth | Explained accrual vs. cash timing without notes |
Multi-client switching | Described his daily client-rotation system |
Deadline reliability | Referenced his firm's month-end close like a habit |
Concerns / risks
No payroll administration experience yet — needs the 90-day certification path.
Salary expectation at the top of our band; flag before the offer conversation.
Interview questions we asked
Walk me through your last reconciliation that found a real problem.
How do you keep three clients straight in one afternoon?
Tell me about a deadline you nearly missed — what did you change after?
Candidate questions
Who reviews the close packets, and how fast is feedback?
What does the first month look like for training?
Is there a path to senior bookkeeper here?
Recommendation
Advance to final review — panel lean-hire (2 of 3). Strongest reconciliation depth we've seen; the payroll gap is trainable. Next step: confirm references, then prepare the offer and move his Stage to Offer — by hand.
Notes don't update the pipeline or prepare the offer by themselves. Move the candidate's Stage when you actually do the next step, and copy the recommendation into the hiring decision.
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