How to create and apply assessment scorecards in a recruitment process

Scorecards are assessment tools to evaluate applicants consistently. They use criteria scored with stars, and each scorecard can be reused across jobs.

How to define a scorecard

To define a scorecard, you must:

• Clarify the objective: What are you measuring?
• List the areas you want to assess and group them (for example, all Ruby on Rails skills together).
• Create expected performance statements for each level.
• Develop the criteria, rating scale, and descriptions for each level.

Example: defining indicators

Requirement from a Rails + React challenge:

Capability to delete searches: We would like to click on an icon and delete some of the searches.

We want to assess both front-end and back-end skills:

• Front-end: Is there a delete icon in the searches view? What is the expected outcome? Is it implemented with React and clean UI?
• Back-end: Does the delete action work? Are the routes and controller logic correct?

After defining expected outcomes, create indicators such as:

• The icon appears in the “searches” view (front-end).
• The delete method and routes are implemented (Rails).
• Clicking the icon deletes the search (back-end).
• Code is clean and readable.

Create the scorecard

You can add subcriteria to make it more specific, based on the indicators you defined.

You can add as many criteria as you need and assign weights from low (0.5x) to very high (2x). These weights influence each applicant’s final score.

How to use a grading scorecard

1. For each task in the challenge, define indicators for the expected outcome.
2. Check how the candidate achieved the goal and assign the score from the scorecard.
3. Average the scores per task and apply them to the related criteria.

How the 5-star scale works

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Excellent
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Very good
⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Good
⭐️⭐️ = Average
⭐️ = Not achieved

You can use scorecards to assess technical knowledge, skills, cultural fit, and more. Define expected outcomes before you create the assessment and any challenge.

Using scorecards as a checklist

You can also use a scorecard as a checklist of required skills. In that case, use the 5-star scale or a simpler 2-star scale (skill present or not).

Once your scorecard is ready, you can assign it to any job.

Related articles

• What are scorecards?
• What are criteria weights in scorecards?
• How do I assign scorecards to a job ad?