You can also use e-mail, meetings at conferences, interview questionnaires, and phone conversations to assess their skills in more detail either before or after the Professional Conversation. If you are really nervous about the lack of assessment, beef up your reference checking process to validate any concerns. Also realize that creative people have quirks. Conclusion Tight times require new approaches. Although managers have been holding Professional Conversations for generations, HR has not embraced the process.
Interviews do have value, but they also have drawbacks.