Employment Interview

The employment interview is one of the most common methods organizations use to recruit, screen, and select employees. Few individuals are hired without going through some form of interview. Generally defined, an employment interview is an interpersonal exchange between a job candidate and one or more organizational representatives who attempt to assess the candidate’s job-relevant experience and knowledge, skills, abilities, and [Page 392]other characteristics (KSAOs) to make a personnel decision. Although the typical interview involves a face-to-face interaction between candidate and interviewer, alternative interview modes, such as telephone and Web-based interviews (e.g., Skype), have become prevalent.

Organizations use employment interviews for three main purposes: recruiting, screening, and selection. Recruiting interviews are used to provide information about a job and organization to individuals, with the primary goal ...