European Social Fund in England

Achievements - Successful at Selection: Fair Interviewing in a Diverse Society

ESF is being used to support a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) led project to help improve employer recruitment practice.

The ‘Successful at Selection’ training package is a result of policy research commissioned by DWP in 2004.

Applied linguists at King’s College London examined the question “Are ethnic minorities systematically discriminated against in job interviews?” To find out, they took video cameras into more than 60 real job interviews to record and analyse the interaction that took place in the interview room.

Discrimination After detailed analysis, their answer was a resounding “yes”. Where first generation minorities and recent arrivals were concerned, there was clear evidence that candidates were at a significant disadvantage because they did not fully understand what was required of them. More importantly, interviewers, despite their attempts to be fair, were not posing questions that were free of cultural bias and were not reading the answers appropriately. In short, candidates did not understand the rules of the game and interviewers did not know how to make sense of what candidates were saying in a fair minded way. It was discrimination based on ignorance, but discrimination none the less.

Fair and equal DWP sought the support of ESF to commission further research, both to look at internal promotion interviews, and to fund the production of a DVD training package – Successful at Selection. This package is designed to help interviewers understand where they need to improve by focusing on how to:

• communicate effectively in interviews;
• resolve cultural misunderstandings;
• ask clear and productive questions;
• make the interview as fair as possible for everyone; and
• give all candidates the opportunity to do their best.

In 2006 the DVD was piloted in six organisations including a multinational food company, Jobcentre Plus, a mail delivery business, a university and two professional training organisations.

The response from managers was very positive. One said, “I found it most useful to put myself in the candidate perspective. At the office, I need to ensure that I put each candidate at ease.” Jobcentre Plus managers said it was “very thought provoking”.

In June this year the DVD was released for use by Jobcentre Plus managers.

Want to know more? email Chris Wood at chris.wood1@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk or Celia Roberts, Kings College London, celiaroberts@lineone.net

A similar DVD is being produced to help ethnic minority job seekers perform more effectively in interviews. This training package will be available later in 2007 from DWP. Contact Dan Monzani dan.monzani@dwp.gsi.gov.uk