Comments on: 4 Hazards of Group Interviews

By: 4 Hazards of Group Interviews « Tech News

4 Hazards of Group Interviews « Tech News — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:49:14 +0000

[...] 4 Hazards of Group Interviews [...]

By: Josh Tolan

Josh Tolan — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 02:11:29 +0000

Great points about the downsides of using group interviews in the hiring process. The point you made about making an emotional connection with potential employees was definitely key. You want to make sure you have a one-on-one with a candidate to start building a relationship, even before they become an everyday employee. Whether this solo interview is in person or using online video interviewing, make sure you give the candidate your undivided attention.

By: Keith Halperin

Keith Halperin — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:59:22 +0000

@ Brian W: well-said, With thed possible exception of the sales candidattes mentioned above, this type of group interview aka “cattle call”, is IMHO the WORST possible interview format you can do.

Cheers,

Keith “Not a Cowboy” Halperin

By: Brian Whitfield

Brian Whitfield — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:40:15 +0000

The company may think it is a great way to interview but this method almost guarantees that they will not get A+ candidates. A+ candidates are unlikely to sit in on a public ‘weedout session’ (which is what that really is). Many candidates view a public interview as a demeaning process for desperate people – not a courting process for A level candidates. Lots of candidates have refused to attend these types of interviews at the few clients I have that tried them. I am sure they will get some hires that way, but they are likely costing themselves the best people.

By: Carol Schultz

Carol Schultz — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:53:27 +0000

Elias: You make a good point about someone not liking a candidate; however, if a company has thoroughly aligned talent and business strategies and put together a solid, objective method to assess candidates the problem you describe will be minimized greatly or even removed.

By: Elias Cobb

Elias Cobb — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:56:01 +0000

I would also add that group interviewing can add biases that need not exist. In my career, I have seen several companies miss out on excellent candidates, ones that the hiring manager wanted to bring on, because one person in the group “didn’t like” the candidate. In one case, the manager was forced to fire the candidate that DID get the job, and came back to use to see if the initial candidate was still interested. She had moved on and wasn’t interested. Group interviews can be beneficial, but going for a 100% consensus can make the hiring process unnecessarily difficult and lengthy.

By: 4 Hazards of Group Interviews | Rock Coast Personnel

4 Hazards of Group Interviews | Rock Coast Personnel — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:43:02 +0000

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By: Jim Roddy

Jim Roddy — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:02:50 +0000

Jim C: Thanks for adding your comments and thanks for the kind words. I wish I would always embrace brevity when I communicate. :)

Carol: Thank you!

By: Carol Schultz

Carol Schultz — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:35:10 +0000

Jim: You hit the nail on the head with this.

By: Jim Cargill

Jim Cargill — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:43:53 +0000

Jim,

Excellent article. The points are spot on, and I want to commend you on your directness and brevity. Some writers on this site would have turned this into a 10-pager.

I would add to your excellent points that this interview format is intended solely for sales candidates, primarily commission-sales candidates. Given that there would likely be 5 or more interviewers, and likely 10 or more candidates, there is not sufficient time to ask nultiple quality questions, especially behavioral questions, of all candidates. In all cases, there will be limited info gained in this interview. The reason it works for sales candidates is because interviewers are generally looking for people who are engaging, assertive, and can easily display genuine interest. Those attributes shine brightly in a group setting where they can easily be displayed. Trying to use this interview format for other positions will (not “can”, but “will”) result in losing out on potential winners. In general, group interviews of any type are full of pitfalls many interviewers don’t consider, or ignore. But, that is the subject of another conversation…

Great article, Jim Roddy!

By: Daily Tickr: Hazards of Group Interviews | jobtrakr

Daily Tickr: Hazards of Group Interviews | jobtrakr — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:37:04 +0000

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