The Pros and Cons of Interview
It often happens that a number of applicants
with almost identical qualifications and experience
all apply for the same position.
In their educational background,
special skills and work experience,
there is little, if anything,
to choose between half a dozen candidates.
How then does the employer make a choice?
Usually on the basis of an interview.
There are many arguments for and against
the interview as a selection procedure.
The main argument against it
is that it results in a wholly subjective decision.
As often as not, employers do not choose the best candidate,
they choose the candidate
who makes a good first impression on them.
Some employers, of course,
reply to this argument by saying
that they have become so experienced in interviewing staff
that they are able to make a sound assessment
of each candidate's likely performance.
The main argument in favour of the interview—
and it is, perhaps, a good argument—
is that an employer is concerned
not only with a candidate's ability,
but with the suitability of his or her personality
for the particular work situation.
Many employers, for example,
will overlook occasional inefficiencies from their secretary
provided she has a pleasant personality.
It is perhaps true to say, therefore,
that the real purpose of an interview
is not to assess the assessable aspects of each candidate
but to make a guess at the more intangible things,
such as personality, character and social ability.
Unfortunately, both for the employers and applicants for jobs,
there are many people of great ability
who simply do not interview well.
There are also, of course, people who interview extremely well,
but are later found to be very unsatisfactory employees.
Candidates who interview well tend to be quietly confident,
but never boastful;
direct and straightforward in their questions and answers;
cheerful and friendly,
but never over-familiar;
and sincerely enthusiastic and optimistic.
Candidates who interview badly
tend to be at either end of the spectrum of human behaviour.
They are either very shy or over-confident.
They show either a lack of enthusiasm or an excess of it.
They either talk too little or never stop talking.
They are either over-polite or rudely abrupt.