Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Execution and reliability
35% weight
Check what the applicant actually delivered under a deadline: a capstone project, club budget, hackathon build, or part-time role, with dates, hours committed and outputs handed over.
Evidence to listen for
Describes a workload they owned and how they kept it from slipping
Names the tools and systems they ran day to day
Can talk about volume: tickets, inboxes, orders, uptime
Nothing quietly falls through when they are busy
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot describe their own workload; things slip without them noticing.
2
Needs Improvement
Handles routine volume; drops work under pressure.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on steady-state work; struggles when volume spikes.
4
Very Good
Consistently reliable at real volume with a system for staying on top.
5
Excellent
Names specific deliverables with dates and volumes, plus evidence of finishing a semester-long or cohort commitment without dropping out midway.
02
Evaluation factor
Improving the process
25% weight
Probe whether they have rebuilt a workflow: a shared Notion or Sheets tracker, a recruitment process for a student society, or a handover document their successor still uses.
Evidence to listen for
Has changed a process rather than only following one
Can name what was slow or error-prone and what they did about it
Documents so the improvement survives them
Knows when a process is worth automating and when it is not
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Follows instructions only; no sense that process can change.
2
Needs Improvement
Notices problems but escalates rather than solving.
3
Satisfactory
Makes small improvements; impact is local and undocumented.
4
Very Good
Has redesigned a real process with measurable effect.
5
Excellent
Describes a concrete process they redesigned, why the old version broke, and how the replacement was adopted by others after they left.
03
Evaluation factor
Judgement and autonomy
25% weight
Assess readiness for relocation autonomy: passport and visa or work permit status, funding for airfare and housing, and how they handled a problem abroad with no supervisor nearby.
Evidence to listen for
Knows what to decide alone and what to escalate
Handles an exception without freezing or improvising recklessly
Protects confidentiality and access appropriately
Asks a clarifying question rather than guessing on something costly
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Either escalates everything or acts recklessly on their own.
2
Needs Improvement
Needs frequent direction; uneasy with exceptions.
3
Satisfactory
Sound judgement on familiar decisions.
4
Very Good
Clear sense of their own authority; handles exceptions well.
5
Excellent
Has cleared eligibility logistics already and gives an example of resolving an unfamiliar situation independently before escalating to a mentor.
04
Evaluation factor
Communication
15% weight
Look for clear written and spoken English plus a self-reflection habit: Skilio skill evidence, feedback they solicited from a supervisor, and how they update a host company on progress.
Evidence to listen for
Writes clearly enough that people act without a follow-up
Manages expectations before a deadline slips, not after
Handles a frustrated colleague or customer calmly
Works across time zones or async where the role needs it
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unclear written communication; goes quiet when things slip.
2
Needs Improvement
Communication needs chasing; raises problems late.
3
Satisfactory
Clear enough day to day; proactive updates are inconsistent.
4
Very Good
Clear, proactive, and calm under pressure.
5
Excellent
Speaks in structured, unpadded answers, cites feedback received verbatim, and shows a habit of proactive status updates rather than silence.
Put this rubric to work
Score every candidate against the same standard
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