Deck 7: Interviewing Candidates

Question 1

In a stress interview, the interviewer ________.

A)provides an applicant with a task to complete in a set amount of time
B)tries to make the applicant uncomfortable in order to spot sensitivity
C)gives a word problem to see how the candidate thinks under pressure
D)describes a hypothetical situation to assess how the applicant responds

Answer 1

B
Explanation: B)In a stress interview, the interviewer seeks to make the applicant uncomfortable with occasionally rude questions. The aim is supposedly to spot sensitive applicants and those with low (or high)stress tolerance.

Question 2

Which of the following refers to a procedure designed to predict future job performance based on an applicant's oral responses to oral inquiries?

A)work sample simulation
B)selection interview
C)reference check
D)arbitration

Answer 2

B
Explanation: B)A selection interview is a procedure designed to predict future job performance based on applicant's oral responses to oral inquires.

Question 3

What type of interview would most likely include the following statement? "Imagine that you have just been assigned the task of winning the business of our competition's biggest client. How would you proceed?"

A)behavioral
B)stress
C)puzzle
D)situational

Answer 3

D
Explanation: D)Situational interviews ask questions based on hypothetical events. Behavioral interview questions ask applicants to describe how they reacted to actual situations in the past. Puzzle questions require applicants to solve a problem, and stress questions may be invasive and rude.

Question 4

What is the type of interview which lists the questions ahead of time?

A)structured interview
B)unstructured interview
C)situational interview
D)behavioral interview

Question 5

Dr. Ross is interviewing for a position as Assistant Professor of Biology. His interview is conducted by a team of other faculty members in the department who interview him simultaneously and then combine their ratings into one score. This is an example of a ________ interview.

A)serial
B)panel
C)one-on-one
D)mass

Question 6

In a ________ interview, a panel questions several candidates simultaneously.

A)formal
B)topical
C)panel
D)mass

Question 7

What type of interview would most likely include the statement, "Tell me about a time when you worked successfully in a team environment"?

A)situational
B)behavioral
C)puzzle
D)stress

Question 8

Which of the following questions would most likely be asked during a stress interview?

A)"I see that you switched colleges four times before finally earning your degree. I think that reflects an inability to make good decisions and remain focused. What do you think?"
B)"Can you tell me about a time in the past when you used leadership skills to handle a difficult situation?"
C)"Mike and Todd have $21 between them. Mike has $20 more than Todd has. How much does Mike have and how much does Todd have?"
D)"Why are you leaving your current position and changing careers?"

Question 9

Kevin is interviewing for a position as a public relations specialist in a communications firm. He first meets with the HR manager. Afterwards, he meets with the department manager. Finally, he meets with the company president. Kevin is most likely experiencing a ________ interview.

A)board
B)panel
C)serial
D)mass

Question 10

Which of the following statements is representative of what might be asked in a situational interview?

A)"Tell me about a time you showed leadership in a difficult situation."
B)"Suppose you were confronted with an angry customer who threatened to sue the company. What would you do?"
C)"Can you think of a time when you were especially proud of your management skills? Tell me about that."
D)"In this position, you are responsible for hiring and firing subordinates. Have you ever fired anyone before? Describe how you handled the situation."

Question 11

When an interview is used to predict future job performance on the basis of an applicant's oral responses to oral inquiries, it is called a ________ interview.

A)screening
B)selection
C)benchmark
D)background

Question 12

Which of the following is the primary disadvantage of using structured interviews during the employee selection process?

A)higher potential for bias
B)limited validity and reliability
C)inconsistency across candidates
D)reduced opportunities for asking follow-up questions

Question 13

What type of interview would most likely include the following: "It must be difficult to leave a company after such strong accusations of unethical behavior. Tell me about that"?

A)situational
B)behavioral
C)stress
D)puzzle

Question 14

According to the text, selection interviews are classified by all of the following factors EXCEPT ________.

A)administration
B)structure
C)content
D)length

Question 15

Which of the following is the most commonly used selection tool?

A)telephone reference
B)reference letter
C)interview
D)personality test

Question 16

Which of the following is another term for an unstructured interview?

A)directive
B)nondirective
C)unformatted
D)administrative

Question 17

How do situational interviews differ from behavioral interviews?

A)Situational interviews are based on an applicant's responses to actual past situations.
B)Situational interviews are based on how an applicant might behave in a hypothetical situation.
C)Situational interviews ask applicants job-related questions to assess their knowledge and skills.
D)Behavioral interviews ask applicants to describe their emotions in different hypothetical situations.

Question 18

Which of the following is an advantage of using a nondirective format when interviewing job candidates?

A)allows candidates to ask questions
B)uses a manager's time more effectively
C)pursues points of interest as they develop
D)scores and compares candidates with consistency

Question 19

Which of the following terms refers to a group of interviewers working together to question and rate one applicant?

A)serial interview
B)board interview
C)sequential interview
D)mass interview

Question 20

Which of the following statements is representative of what might be asked in a behavioral interview?

A)"Consider a time when you were faced with an angry client. What did you do to turn the situation around?"
B)"We are concerned with employee pilferage. As a manager here, how would you go about discouraging this behavior?"
C)"Employees in this division are frequently under a great deal of pressure. How do you think you would handle the stress of the position?"
D)"What would you do if a subordinate threatened to sue the company for discrimination?"

Question 21

In a stress interview, the interviewer seeks to make the applicant uncomfortable with rude questions.

Question 22

The primary purpose of conducting a stress interview is to determine ________.

A)why an applicant wants to work for the firm
B)how an applicant solves complex problems
C)why an applicant lied on the resume
D)how an applicant handles criticism

Question 23

Which of the following most likely combines aspects of behavioral and situational questioning?

A)computerized interviews
B)panel interviews
C)mass interviews
D)case interviews

Question 24

Ellen is interviewing along with several other talented candidates for a position as a journalist at a newspaper. A team of interviewers will meet with all the candidates at once. The team will pose problems to the candidates and see which candidate takes the lead in formulating an answer. This is most likely an example of a ________ interview.

A)serial
B)board
C)mass
D)panel

Question 25

Studies suggest that interviewers tend to evaluate applicants less favorably in telephone interviews than in face-to-face interviews.

Question 26

Nondirective interviews can be described as little more than a general conversation.

Question 27

Nondirective interviews follow no set format so the interviewer can ask follow-up questions and pursue points of interest as they develop.

Question 28

Career FAQs lists things that interviewees should keep in mind when doing an online video interview. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A)clean up the room
B)use a new computer
C)do a dry run
D)look presentable

Question 29

Which of the following is a common characteristic of computerized interviews?

A)multiple-choice questions
B)puzzle questions
C)follow-up questions
D)open-ended questions

Question 30

With phone and tablet video functionalities FaceTime™ and Skype™, Web-based "in-person" interview use is widespread; In a recent year about ________ of candidates took such interviews .

A)2%
B)7%
C)18%
D)45%

Question 31

All of the following are common characteristics of computerized selection interviews EXCEPT ________.

A)questions presented rapidly
B)response times measured for any delays
C)questions focused on experience and skills
D)essay questions based on hypothetical situations

Question 32

The majority of selection interviews are one-on-one and sequential.

Question 33

Which of the following interview formats will most likely result in the highest validity?

A)structured, situational
B)unstructured, situational
C)structured, behavioral
D)unstructured, behavioral

Question 34

An employer can most likely increase the reliability of a panel interview by ________.

A)using an unstructured interview format
B)interviewing multiple candidates simultaneously
C)providing interviewers with scoring sheets and sample answers
D)requiring candidates to participate in work sampling techniques

Question 35

The primary purpose for conducting a case interview is to ________.

A)provide a candidate with a realistic job preview
B)form a realistic assessment of a candidate's skills
C)ensure that a candidate's needs are expressed
D)determine how a candidate handles criticism

Question 36

Which of the following statements is most likely true?

A)Interpersonal skills are difficult to judge from phone interviews.
B)Phone interviews can generate spontaneous answers from candidates.
C)Candidates prefer phone interviews more than face-to-face interviews.
D)Interviewers usually judge candidates the same in phone and face-to-face interviews.

Question 37

Behavioral interviews ask interviewees to describe how they would react to a hypothetical situation at some point in the future.

Question 38

All structured interviews specify acceptable answers for each question.

Question 39

Nonstructured interviews are preferred to directive interviews because they are more reliable and valid.

Question 40

The interview is the most widely used personnel selection procedure.

Question 41

What three ways can selection interviews be classified? How does each classification affect an interview?

Question 42

A computerized selection interview presents a series of multiple-choice questions regarding background, experience, education, skills, knowledge, and work attitudes.

Question 43

When interviewing an applicant with a disability who uses assistive technology, which of the following questions should NOT be asked?

A)Have you ever experienced any problems between your technology and an employer's information system?
B)How have you addressed any barriers or obstacles that you may have encountered in previous jobs?
C)What is the severity and exact nature of your disability and how does the technology assist you?
D)What specific technology have you successfully used in previous jobs that facilitated your work?

Question 44

First impressions created from a candidate's application forms or personal appearance rarely affect interviewer ratings of candidates.

Question 45

Which of the following traits is most likely to be assessed accurately during an interview?

A)intelligence
B)agreeableness
C)conscientiousness
D)emotional stability

Question 46

Candidates who make an initial bad impression on an interviewer are typically able to reverse the situation if they close the interview in a strong manner.

Question 47

Employers typically base decisions on false impressions and stereotypes when they fail to clarify in advance what traits and knowledge are necessary for a specific job.

Question 48

During an interview, Tanya discusses her numerous accomplishments at previous jobs and praises the interviewer frequently. Tanya is most likely using ________.

A)impression management
B)talent management
C)mixed motives
D)behavior modification

Question 49

Computer-aided interviews are primarily used to administer and score essay questions.

Question 50

In a brief essay, discuss the effect of modern communications technology on interviews.

Question 51

According to studies, which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a job interview?

A)thank-you notes sent from the candidate to the interviewer
B)an interviewer's first impression of the candidate
C)favorable information about the candidate
D)a candidate's extroverted personality

Question 52

Which of the following applicant characteristics is LEAST likely to be assessed accurately during a selection interview?

A)extroversion
B)agreeableness
C)job knowledge
D)conscientiousness

Question 53

Interviewers tend to rate candidates who promote themselves and use impression management tactics more poorly on candidate-job fit.

Question 54

Which of the following refers to an error of judgment on the part of the interviewer due to interviewing one or more very good or very bad candidates just before the interview in question?

A)context error
B)contrast error
C)recency error
D)primacy error

Question 55

When interviewing disabled people, interviewers tend to avoid directly addressing the disability, which limits an interviewer's opportunity to adequately determine whether or not a candidate can perform the job.

Question 56

Which of the following terms refers to individuals asked by the EEOC to apply for employment which they do not intend to accept, for the sole purpose of uncovering unlawful discriminatory hiring practices?

A)spies
B)moles
C)testers
D)insiders

Question 57

Which of the following characteristics of an interview would most likely raise concerns about interview discrimination?

A)job-related questions
B)multiple interviewers
C)subjective interview questions
D)standardized interview administration

Question 58

Which of the following would most likely increase candidate-order errors?

A)applicant gender
B)recruiting pressure
C)poor first impression
D)lack of job knowledge

Question 59

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act an interviewer must limit his or her questions to whether an applicant has any physical or mental impairment that may interfere with his or her ability to perform the job's essential tasks.

Question 60

Which of the following best describes telegraphing during an interview?

A)drawing out the most useful information from an applicant
B)searching for hidden meanings in an applicant's answers
C)smiling at an applicant to suggest a desired answer
D)allowing an applicant to dominate an interview

Question 61

In order to conduct an effective interview, interviewers should NOT ask job candidates about their ________.

A)knowledge
B)lifelong goals
C)willingness
D)motivation

Question 62

Which of the following is an example of a job knowledge question?

A)"What are the legal restrictions regarding the use of telemarketing for consumers who have a past relationship with a company?"
B)"Suppose you were confronted with an angry customer who threatened to sue the company. What would you do?"
C)"Mike and Todd have $21 between them. Mike has $20 more than Todd has. How much has Mike and how much has Todd?"
D)"Can you tell me about a time in the past when you used leadership skills to handle a difficult situation?"

Question 63

What is the best way to avoid most interview errors?

A)conduct panel interviews
B)use a structured interviewing format
C)utilize computerized interviewing technology
D)ask only situational questions during the interview

Question 64

What is the first step in conducting an effective interview?

A)knowing the job
B)developing relevant questions
C)establishing rapport with candidates
D)asking technical questions

Question 65

How many interviewers usually make up a panel interview?

A)1
B)2
C)3-6
D)8-10

Question 66

Which of the following is the most likely outcome of using the same questions with all candidates being interviewed?

A)responses improved
B)weaknesses revealed
C)reliability limited
D)bias reduced

Question 67

Which of the following is a true statement regarding structured situational interviews?

A)Answers are compared to industry standards.
B)Hypothetical questions are typically avoided.
C)Job descriptions are written after the interview.
D)Interviews are usually conducted by a panel.

Question 68

How can a firm protect itself from charges of discrimination in its interview process? What is the role of testers in employment discrimination?

Question 69

How do nonverbal behaviors and impression management affect an interview?

Question 70

George Reyes has recently been hired as the vice president of marketing at Great Toys, a mid-size firm that specializes in classic wooden toys. The CEO of Great Toys wants to expand the firm's presence in the toy market, which is highly competitive. As a result, the marketing department's budget has been significantly increased. George plans to use some of the additional funds to hire a new media planner. George is considering the idea of conducting a structured situational interview in the hiring process. Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that George should use a structured situational interview to hire a media planner?

A)Great Toys' HR department has developed a job description for the new media planner position.
B)Great Toys' competitors typically face legal issues in the hiring process stemming from the ADA.
C)Great Toys' employees typically remain with the company for many years because they feel comfortable with the organizational culture.
D)Great Toys' executives want to ensure that the interview process is fair to all candidates and that the best candidate is hired.

Question 71

What are some common errors that managers make during interviews and what impact can they have?

Question 72

The EEOC uses testers who apply for employment which they do not intend to accept for the purpose of uncovering unlawful discriminatory hiring practices.

Question 73

After creating questions for a structured situational interview, ________ need to be developed for scoring purposes.

A)grade definitions
B)alternative rankings
C)benchmark answers
D)human resource metrics

Question 74

A series of job-relevant questions with predetermined answers that interviewers ask of all applicants for a job is known as a ________.

A)nondirective situational interview
B)structured behavioral interview
C)nondirective behavioral interview
D)structured situational interview

Question 75

In a structured situational interview, interview questions should primarily address ________.

A)essential job duties
B)occupational benefits
C)salary requirements
D)personality issues

Question 76

George Reyes has recently been hired as the vice president of marketing at Great Toys, a mid-size firm that specializes in classic wooden toys. The CEO of Great Toys wants to expand the firm's presence in the toy market, which is highly competitive. As a result, the marketing department's budget has been significantly increased. George plans to use some of the additional funds to hire a new media planner. George is considering the idea of conducting a structured situational interview in the hiring process. Which of the following most likely undermines the argument that George should use a structured situational interview to hire a media planner?

A)The HR department prefers handling job evaluations without the assistance of managers.
B)George and the HR manager lack the time required to participate in a lengthy interview process.
C)George worked as a media planner at another firm and is familiar with the tasks involved in the job.
D)Great Toys has used headhunters in the past to fill executive-level positions at the firm.

Question 77

Because EEOC testers are not really seeking employment, they do not have legal standing in court to charge unlawful discriminatory hiring practices.

Question 78

What is the second step in the procedure for developing a guide for a structured situational interview?

A)rate the job's main duties
B)create interview questions
C)create benchmark answers
D)appoint the interview panel

Question 79

Research indicates that interviewers typically have negative reactions towards candidates who are wheelchair-bound.

Question 80

When developing a structured situational interview, the first step in the process is ________.

A)rating the job's main duties
B)creating interview questions
C)analyzing the job
D)creating benchmark answers