The Effects of Interview Focus on Recruitment Effectiveness: A Field Experiment

This study investigated the impact of interview focus (i.e., combined recruitment-selection versus recruitment only), interview content, and individual differences on applicants' information acquisition during interviews and persistence in pursuing jobs. Applicants for a position in a research center were studied longitudinally in a randomized experimental design. Results indicated that applicants acquired more information from interviews focusing solely on recruitment. This effect was strengthened where applicants were low in cognitive ability, high in trait anxiety, and low in self-monitoring. However, applicants involved in combined recruitment-selection interviews were more likely to persist in pursuing the job. The implications of these results for recruiting practice are described.