Interviewers’ Sensitivity to Impression Management Tactics in Structured Interviews
Abstract
This study examines interviewers’ sensitivity to impression management in structured interviews by determining the relative importance that interviewers attach to (verbal and nonverbal) impression management as compared to the relative importance that they attach to predetermined competencies. Two samples of interviewers (55 Master I/O psychology students and 18 professional interviewers) watched and evaluated videotaped interviewees who were instructed to put their best foot forward. Results of relative weight analyses showed that the importance of verbal and nonverbal impression management tactics was relatively small as compared to the importance attached to job-related competencies. The type of interview format had some effect on interviewers’ sensitivity to impression management tactics. In particular, in behavior description interviews the interviewers in both samples attached most relative weight to self-focused verbal tactics. Interviewer experience was not related to interviewers’ sensitivity to impression management tactics.
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