Selection Interview Outcomes in Relation to Interviewer Training and Experience.

Abstract

This study investigated relationships between interviewer training and experience and the outcomes of 514 initial graduate recruitment interviews (N = 71 personnel interviewers from private companies). Leniency of interviewer judgments was unrelated to training or experience, with the single exception that trained interviewers were more likely to offer candidates follow-up interviews. Training and experience were both positively related to interviewers' confidence in the accuracy of their assessments of candidates. Training and experience moderated the relationship between interviewers' personal liking for candidates and their evaluation of them. This relationship was lower in trained interviewers and in inexperienced interviewers. Candidates were more willing to accept potential job offers from trained interviewers. Interviewer experience was unrelated to candidate acceptance ratings.