Case Study: How Chemifloc transformed their interview process to improve hiring outcomes

Client Overview

Chemifloc is an industrial manufacturing company operating in Ireland and Europe with over 100 employees across operations, logistics and administrative roles.

The Challenge

Chemifloc had a number of legacy practices for interviewing and evaluating candidates which had developed over many years of company growth. The interview practices varied across each of the company’s divisions and had become inconsistent and at times ad-hoc. The newly appointed CPO wanted to create and then standardise the process across every division to reflect best practice and ensure the company continues to secure and retain great people using fair and robust processes.

The Solution

We designed and delivered a two-part project incorporating:

1. Review of existing interview process and candidate evaluation
   We audited existing job descriptions, candidate evaluation and scoring criteria and existing legacy questions. We gave recommendations for how to redesign and standardise the job descriptions to reflect key skills and company values. Working closely with the HR team we created a standard Candidate Evaluation Scoresheet which could be used when interviewing for all roles in the company. We also created a Candidate Evaluation Matrix to assist interviewers when evaluating candidate answers in real-time during the interview
2. Manager Interview Training Workshop
   Recognising that process change requires buy-in, we partnered with the HR team to deliver a 3.5-hour workshop for division managers. The session went beyond theory: managers engaged in lively discussions about structured interviewing, tackled unconscious bias and legal issues related to hiring and took part in realistic role-play exercises to practice handling tough interview scenarios. This hands-on approach ensured that managers not only understood the new process but felt confident and invested in using it.

The Outcome

By standardising and updating the company’s interview process, our client now has a more transparent and effective hiring process. Managers have the tools and skills to make informed hiring decisions and the company is well-positioned to secure and retain the skilled employees it needs to grow. The new process now ensures that every candidate’s experience reflects the company’s commitment to quality and fairness.

Client Feedback

“Sinead was a pleasure to work with and brought a wealth of expertise to the entire process. The training she delivered was engaging and informative, giving our managers practical tools to improve the effectiveness of and transparency of our interviewing process. I’d highly recommend Sinead and Hilt to anyone who is looking to enhance their process and upskill their team” – Deirdre Bennett, CPO, Chemifloc Group