On dispensing with the selection interview

Abstract

Etienne Gilson once remarked that philosophy, despite many attempts through the ages to sound its death knell, always buries its undertakers. So it is, to date, with the selection interview: despite unfavourable research findings, its popularity continues unabated (Spriegel and James, 1958; Moore, 1968; Russell and Johnstone, 1968). After surveying the situation, Bass (1968) pessimistically concludes that “no matter what, interviews will be held with applicants” and adds that the problem is “to ensure that the interviews do as Utile damage as possible to the accuracy of the entire selection process”. In this article, which examines and brings together two distinct lines of argument, Bass's conclusion is rejected. It is contended instead that a cost‐benefit approach to selection procedures, when considered in conjunction with research findings on the interview, leads to the conclusion that the traditional selection interview should be abandoned.