Is an interview the right way to select a person for a job?
By rhinoboy
@rhinoboy (2129)
May 15, 2007 11:04am CST
A friends discussion got me thinking about job applications.
In the UK, the standard way to get a job is to fill out an application or send a letter & your CV (resume). A few of these are then chose to have an interview.
The job interview is a strange situation in which the employer (normally 1-4 people) sits with each applicant and asks difficult questions about why you want the job, what you think you can do that nobody else can, what experiences you have that show certain skills / abilities / characteristics.
It's commonly known that EVERYONE either embellishes the truth, or just downright lies in order to appear as the best person for the job. There are some newer methods being used, like telephone interviews for call-centre staff or aptitude tests for technical jobs, but the final decision seens to always fall to the interview, which tends to favour the skills of thinking on your feet and lying convincingly.
Are other methods of selection used elsewhere in the world?
What other methods of recruitment have you experienced?
Do you think that an interviews are the best way to choose people?
Have you interviewed or been interviewed by some wierdos?
Tell me your best job-hunting stories!
3 people like this
5 responses
@smuggeridge (2148)
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15 May 07
Interviews aren't very nice. Its difficult to get an idea of what someone is truly like by what they are like in an hour long interview. You need a few weeks to get to know someone but the problem is that you can't really have a two week interview.
Don't know what will be a better alternative. I do however think that the way they are done should be different. I went for an interview the other week and kept having loads of weird questions like tell me of a time when you had to make a difficult decision, how does such a question possibly tell them if i am suitable for the job?
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
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20 May 07
i'm the same as you, i'm currently doing some work experience with a company so didn't have to do an interview, i'm hoping they will see how good i am and then offer me a real job.
I noticed that it says that the last person that responded to your discussion is itsreallymefifty but her responses have gone, as have all of her responses and discussion, you got any idea whats happened to Ann marie?
@rhinoboy (2129)
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17 May 07
This is exactly what I mean. Interview performance is irrelevant to so many jobs, especially when they come out with those ridiculous "Tell me about a time when you..." questions.
I'm not very good when put on the spot with things that I'm not used to, so in interviews I quickly become a nervous wreck. I was in such a state during the interview for my current job, that the interviewer asked me to come back and try again. Luckily for me it was an internal move within the company I already worked for, so most of the staff knew how well I work and what kind of guy I am.
If they didn't already know me, I wouldn't have had a hope in hell, but once into the job, they're always pleased with how I perform.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
15 May 07
Hi Rhino
I have done a lot of Interviews as I was an Area Manager which included Interviewing
The Problem is that the Adverts say Training included no Experience neccesary and they are lying
My Daughter has a lot of qualifications it took her a year to find a job why because she had no Experience
When I did the Interviews I would go by what their previous Jobs where, why they left the Job and Personality
Yes they lie I noticed it on a few and I would not employ them as I always noticed when they lied
How? It sounded to good to be true that is how I knew
I would watch their Faces and it always gave it away
You are right that People lie on their CVs their Interviews and do you know that they get jobs through lies but if you tell the truth forget it
@rhinoboy (2129)
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17 May 07
I think most companies rely on having poeple with intuition like yours, but I still don;t know whether it's the best way to pick employees. For many (probably most) jobs, being able to perform well in a pressurised situation like that has nothing to do with the job itself, so those who do a great interview, lying or not, still aren't necessarily the best person for the job. Don't you think?
1 person likes this
@Poison_Girl (4150)
• United States
20 May 07
I agree that it's hard to understand how a person would be for a job with just a short interview. I do, however, believe you can at least get a feel for what they're like. I work for a staffing company and while I don't do the interview, I do see a lot of "interesting" people come in. Some complain about the whole process, others are really nice and patient. One woman brought her lunch and pulled it out in the middle of her interview. Over here, we have some jobs that we call "temp-to-hire". I think these are great because what they do is hire someone through a temp agency or a staffing company (like who I work for) for a certain length of time and that person works through the staffing company's payroll during this time, if the company likes that person, they hire them "permanently" and switch them to their own payroll. I hope that makes sense. I think this is a perfect way to gauge whether or not someone is well-suited for the job.
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
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21 May 07
That's a great way of working things. It would work well here if allowed to, I think.
We have the same type of employment agencies, where people work for the agency and are 'rented' by comanies for set periods. The funny thing is that there's usually an embargo in the contracts to stop the company hiring the person directly for about 6 months or more after they stop working for the agency! I guess it's to safeguard the agency's business, but it doesn't do any favours for the employees. Businesses pay about twice the normal rate (depending on the job) for agency staff, so if they need to recruit permanent staff to save money, they have to look for someone completely new!
@recycledgoth (9894)
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17 May 07
I find it hard enough just getting an interview these days, never mind a job. I hate interviews though, I always find myself getting nervous and anxious and it looks bad. If I do get an interview it's usually two questions that throw me everytime. "Where do you see yourself in five years time" Hell, at my age I could well be in the grave in five years time, how the heck do I know, and "Why do you want this job" Because I'm skint and desperate to find an employer that will take on a 55 years old woman.
@rhinoboy (2129)
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18 May 07
I suppose with temping, you must be sick to the back teeth of them!
It's exactly what I was talking about that they still come out with that crap to you. No disrespect, but do they really think that a woman of your age is looking to 'climb their ladder' and forge a lifetime career with them?
"Why do you want this job?" is my all-time favourite. Why the fcuk do you think I want the job?!!!!! If they think people really apply for jobs for the sole reason of 'joining an exciting dynamic team to introduce great value products to our clients' they wouldn't need to offer a salary, would they?
I might submit an application somewhere and record the interview for a laugh actually. I'll answer each question completely honestly and watch their reaction. I can imagine it now...
"What would you bring to our office?"
"Well, a calculator, my coat - if it's raining outside, a notepab & pen...."
"What attracts you to this position?"
"The money sounds good and the job sounds p!ss easy."
@jazzafrazz (910)
• Canada
20 May 07
Hey Rhino, i thought I did see something similar to this one. But, yeah an interview is always the best way to make a decision when you're planning to or have found the right person for the job. Within an interview the employer gets an idea of the potential employee. That he/she shows a lot of confidence, maturity also plays a factor. When you're speaking to them seeing that they're comfortable speaking to strangers and relating on specific topics.. gives you an idea that they can easily go from being entry level to management.
One of the most memorable interviews I had was with a guy who didn't want to conduct the interview. Look like he wanted to be somewhere else. So I didn't waste anytime with him, I told him what I expected as an employee.. gave him my availability times.. after that he hired me.
The 2nd most memorable interview lasted only 2.. whole... minutes! tres` bizarre! And yes, I was hired on the spot!!
