Think fast: The role of thin slices of behavior in employee selection decisions

This study integrates past research addressing decision‐making, employee selection, and influence processes in an attempt to provide both a theoretical and empirical foundation for future research addressing initial impressions throughout the interview process. Using data from a simulated hiring situation comprised of 28 recruiters and 229 applicants, the results suggest that initial impressions formed at the beginning of the interview make a substantive impact on final impressions. However, impressions formed at the career fair do not appear to impact final impressions without considering the interactive effects of decision confidence. Hypotheses proposing that decision confidence would moderate linkages between initial impressions formed at the beginning of the interview and both interview scores and final impressions were not supported. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for selection.     

THE USE OF ROLEPLAYING JOB INTERVIEWS WITH JOB CORPS FEMALES

Observation of the schism between employers and disadvantaged females, leads to the preparation of counselees for job interviews and exploration of the world of work with them. By chance, roleplaying a job interview was used during a group guidance session with Job Corps females, and the comparative success encountered with the technique encouraged this investigation. As a technique, it was found to be flexible, adaptable, and timesaving. It was of benefit to the counselor in six areas, and students indicated that they found the technique of value as a means of preparation for a real job interview, acquainting them with the scope of their communications problems and reducing these shortcomings.