Employee interview in the skilled trades: An effective template

The employee interview is an essential tool in every craft business to promote communication between managers and employees and to achieve common goals. In this article, we present a practical template for employee interviews in the craft industry that helps managers and team leaders to conduct constructive and goal-oriented discussions.

Chapter 1

The importance of employee interviews in the skilled trades

Goals and benefits of employee interviews

Employee appraisals in the skilled trades are not only used to assess performance, but also to motivate and retain employees. They offer the opportunity to give feedback, set goals and promote professional development.

Challenges of employee interviews in craft businesses

Conducting employee interviews in the skilled trades can be challenging due to the often craft-specific working conditions and the diverse employee profiles.

Chapter 2

The structure of an effective employee interview

Preparing for the interview

Defining the objectives of the conversation

• Define clear goals, e.g. performance appraisal, goal setting, feedback.

Collecting information and examples

• Collect previous performance reviews, customer feedback and other relevant information.

Conducting the employee interview

Introduction and conversation atmosphere

• Create an open and positive atmosphere for discussion.
• Start with general questions about the current situation and well-being.

Main part of the conversation

• Discussion of performance and behavior.
• Common objectives for the coming period.
• Discussion about training and development opportunities.

Conclusion and agreements

• Summary of the points discussed.
• Setting concrete goals and measures.
• Arrange the next appointment.

Follow-up to the conversation

Documentation of conversation content

• Record important points and agreements in writing.

Implementation of the agreed measures

• Review progress and results regularly.

Conclusion: Employee interviews as the key to success in the skilled trades

Effective employee discussions are of central importance in the skilled trades. They not only strengthen employee loyalty and motivation, but also contribute to the continuous improvement of work quality and the achievement of company goals. With the right template and structure, managers in the skilled trades can conduct successful discussions that are beneficial for both the company and the employees.