Interview Signal for executive search: the confidential candidate report
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For executive search, Interview Signal runs beside a consultant's video or phone interview with a senior candidate, with no bot joining the call, and writes the result into its built-in "Executive search" template, subtitled "Confidential candidate report": an executive summary, leadership and scope, an assessment against the client's brief, and the candidate's own words as evidence. Transcripts, candidate names and reports stay on the consultant's computer. As of October 2026 a solo consultant fits Solo ($49 a month) and a firm of three or more consultants fits Team ($59 per seat per month, or $49 billed yearly). There is no ATS integration. This describes version 0.9.10.
How does a search consultant use Interview Signal, step by step?
- Turn the position spec into a role. Press "New role", paste the spec into "Job description", and type what the client said at the briefing into "What the client actually wants". The brief outranks the job description wherever they disagree, and the model is told not to make a skill must-ask just because the spec lists it.
- Choose the shape. "Submittal template": "Executive search". "Interview type": "Behavioural" ("Specific past situations and what they personally did.") or "Balanced", which keeps notice period, compensation expectation and right to work as must-asks. "Difficulty": "Expert" ("Staff and above. A strong answer changes how you see the problem."). Press "Generate the kit", edit, and "Save role". See the kit from a job description.
- Prepare each interview. On the pre-interview screen, add the name, optionally the client under "Company or client", and the candidate's CV, pasted or as a PDF or text file. The first 8,000 characters are kept, so follow-ups can probe what the CV claims. See attaching a CV.
- Run the conversation. Must-asks stay pinned in the guide until asked, follow-ups dig into what was just said, and the scorecard fills with quotes as you go.
- Finish the report. "End interview" opens the review screen with the report written. Read every "Not discussed." line, add anything you noticed in "Your notes", press "Rewrite", then edit by hand. "Export .docx" saves it as a Word file and "Email to client" opens a draft in your own mail app.
What is in the confidential candidate report?
| Section | Filled by |
|---|---|
| Candidate name, "Confidential candidate report —" and the role | The app |
| Recommendation, then Fit out of 10 | The model writes the recommendation; the app writes the fit, with the number of areas scored if not all were |
| Executive summary | The model, from the transcript |
| Leadership and scope | The model, from the transcript |
| Assessment against the brief | The app: a table of each scorecard area, its score and a one-line assessment |
| Strengths; Areas to explore further | The model, with quotes already checked against the transcript |
| Motivation, compensation and timing | The model, from what was said |
| Evidence from the interview | The model, word-for-word quotes |
The writing rules suit a document that is passed around at the client. Every fact comes from the transcript; a section the interview did not cover reads "Not discussed."; compensation keeps the units it was spoken in and no currency is guessed; the candidate is "they" unless the transcript uses a pronoun; and the recommendation, including any reservation, comes first. The CV is context only: nothing in the report is sourced from it, and its one use is a line under the risks where the CV claims something the interview did not establish. More in the client submittal guide.
How confidential is it?
- On your computer only: the transcript, quotes, candidate name, notes, CV and report. They are never uploaded to Interview Signal.
- Sent to the AI model: the candidate's name and the company when the report is written, the CV during the interview, and the job description and brief when the kit is generated. Model providers are named on the security page.
- Stored on the account: the saved role (title, job description, brief and kit) and the templates. If the client's identity is confidential, keep it out of the role title and the brief; "Company or client" is optional, so leave it blank or use a code name.
- Never sent by the app: the report reaches the client only when you send it. "Email to client" opens a draft with the To line empty.
- Audio goes to a speech-to-text provider in short chunks and is not retained. A data processing agreement is available on request.
Every field is listed in where your data is stored.
Can the report carry our firm's format?
Yes. In the web account, an admin opens "Templates", presses "Duplicate and edit" on "Executive search", renames headings, reorders sections, adds a fixed confidentiality line, and presses "Save template". On Solo you are the account's admin, and the pricing page lists "Your own roles, kits and templates". There is no logo or letterhead field, so add those to the exported Word file. See submittal templates, and for writing a report by hand, the executive search candidate report template.
How do shortlists and client interviews work?
- Shortlist. On the home screen, click the role and press "Compare" to see up to six scored candidates side by side with the first quote under each score; "Copy as text" gives a scores-only table for the client email. See Compare.
- Before the client meets them. "Copy next round" lists the questions not asked, the areas answered without evidence and the areas never reached.
- One quirk of this template. It has no "Available" or "Compensation" line at the top, so the CSV row, the ATS notes and the email's covering note may leave availability and compensation blank. Both are in the report under "Motivation, compensation and timing".
What does Interview Signal not do for executive search?
- No ATS or search database integration. Attach the Word file or paste the text into your firm's system.
- In person, the scorecard needs you. Over a meeting table both voices reach one microphone and are labeled as you, so areas come back "Probe further", scores above 5 are capped, and follow-ups and "Score as we go" do not start on their own. Press "Evaluate", set your own scores with "+", and press the refresh arrow for follow-ups. See in-person interviews.
- No video, no audio file. There is no recording to share with a client; the report and its quotes are the record.
- Desktop only, on Windows 10 or 11 or macOS 13 or newer; phone interviews must run through the computer.
- Not a referencing or assessment tool. It works from what was said in the interview, and it is a newer product with few public reviews.
For how other tools handle search work, see the best AI note taker for executive search; for question ideas, executive search screening questions. Watch the walkthrough on the Try it page, then download the app; the first 20 minutes are free.
Questions people ask
Can Interview Signal write a confidential candidate report for executive search?
Yes. Interview Signal ships a built-in Executive search template, subtitled Confidential candidate report, with an executive summary, leadership and scope, an assessment against the brief, strengths, areas to explore further, motivation, compensation and timing, and evidence from the interview. The app fills the scores itself, the AI model writes the prose from the transcript, and anything not discussed is written as Not discussed.
Does Interview Signal store executive candidates' names on its servers?
No. Candidate names, transcripts, quotes, notes and reports are stored on the consultant's own computer. The candidate's name and the company are sent to the AI model when it writes the report, and the saved role, including the job description and the client brief, is stored on the account, so keep a confidential client's name out of the role if that matters to the search.
Can I use Interview Signal when I meet an executive candidate in person?
Yes, with limits. Choose In person and the laptop's microphone transcribes both voices, but it labels them all as you, so quotes cannot be verified against the candidate: areas come back as Probe further, scores above 5 are capped, and you press Evaluate and set your own scores with the plus button on each area.
Does Interview Signal integrate with executive search software?
No. As of October 2026 Interview Signal has no integration with any ATS or search database. You export the report as a Word file, copy it, or copy a shaped note, and paste or attach it in your firm's system yourself.