Are My Interviews Valid?
Regular readers know how important it is to validate pre-employment tests. But, what about interviews?
All selection tools, whether they are tests, interviews or work samples should be validated. Validation ensures that your selection process helps you hire the best people. Using validated tools also protects you in the event of legal challenge. There are specific steps to validating interviews:
- Conduct a job analysis to determine the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job. Job analysis information should come from more than one source. Don’t rely on one person’s opinion.
- Write interview questions that address what you found in the job analysis. Research has shown that questions about past behavior are more valid than ones asking about what a person would do in a hypothetical situation.
- Develop a scoring system based on assigning point values to specific answers. Again, rely on multiple job experts to develop the scoring, not just one person.
- Provide training to interviewers on how to use the scoring system. This has been shown to reduce rater bias.
If you have done the above when developing your interviews, they are probably a valid part of your hiring practices. If you haven’t, you should go back and ensure that your interviews are valid so that you are hiring the best people.
Please contact Warren Bobrow if you are interested in ensuring that your interviews are valid.
Listen Up
“Hearing is one of the body’s five senses. Listening is an art.” This Frank Tyger quote highlights an important skill that many of us could stand to improve.
Whether dealing with co-workers, our family, or business contacts at a networking event, how we listen and react can make a world of difference. You can put it in proper perspective when you consider that we have two ears and only one mouth.
Here are a few quick reminders about the basics of being a good listener:
- Ask questions about the other person.
- Don’t interrupt.
- Maintain eye contact; don’t be distracted by other activities going on around you.
- Repeat or paraphrase what was said to ensure understanding and accuracy.
Good listening is truly a win-win proposition. When you allow others to speak, they feel good because you’re paying attention and you will be amazed at what you can learn.
If you’d like to develop listening skills in your organization, please contact Kammy Haynes.