CRSP Interviewing & Selection Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A hiring manager asks a candidate 'Where do you see yourself in five years?' What type of interview question is this?
- Situational question
- Behavioral question
- Future-oriented question (Correct answer)
- Competency-based question
Correct answer: Future-oriented question
Future-oriented questions ask candidates to project their career goals or intentions, unlike behavioral questions which reference past experiences.
Question 2: Which selection method has consistently shown the highest predictive validity for job performance?
- Unstructured interviews
- Reference checks
- Work sample tests (Correct answer)
- Personality assessments
Correct answer: Work sample tests
Work sample tests, which simulate actual job tasks, have among the highest predictive validity for future job performance according to research.
Question 3: During a panel interview, one interviewer dominates questioning while others remain silent. This is an example of:
- Halo effect
- Groupthink in panel dynamics (Correct answer)
- Contrast effect
- Anchoring bias
Correct answer: Groupthink in panel dynamics
Unequal participation in panel interviews can lead to groupthink, where the dominant interviewer's perspective unduly influences the group's evaluation.
Question 4: A recruiter rates all candidates as 'average' regardless of their actual performance. This is known as:
- Central tendency error (Correct answer)
- Leniency bias
- Severity bias
- Contrast effect
Correct answer: Central tendency error
Central tendency error occurs when raters avoid extreme scores and rate everyone near the middle of the scale, reducing differentiation between candidates.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'funnel technique' in interviewing?
- Starting with narrow questions and broadening to general topics
- Beginning with broad open questions and narrowing to specific probes (Correct answer)
- Using only closed-ended questions throughout
- Rotating question types randomly to keep candidates alert
Correct answer: Beginning with broad open questions and narrowing to specific probes
The funnel technique starts with broad, open-ended questions to encourage narrative, then narrows with specific follow-up probes to gather detail.
Question 6: An interviewer asks 'Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.' What is the primary purpose of this question?
- To screen out candidates with weak track records
- To assess self-awareness and learning agility (Correct answer)
- To comply with EEO requirements
- To evaluate technical competency
Correct answer: To assess self-awareness and learning agility
Failure-based behavioral questions are designed to assess a candidate's self-awareness, accountability, and ability to learn and grow from setbacks.
Question 7: Which federal law most directly governs the use of pre-employment tests to ensure they are non-discriminatory?
- FLSA
- ERISA
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Correct answer)
- WARN Act
Correct answer: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination and requires that pre-employment tests not have adverse impact on protected classes unless job-related.
CRSP Interviewing & Selection Techniques 2
A hiring manager asks a candidate 'Where do you see yourself in five years?' What type of interview question is this?