You may have seen the news that John Lewis has announced that they will be posting their interview questions online.
They’ve described this as a step to give them the best chance of finding the right person for the role – tackling the nerves that many neurodivergent people face in interviews.
While many people have praised this decision, it has had split reactions from recruiters in the staffing industry.
We’ve explored the potential pros and cons of making your interview questions public.
The pros:
1) Levels the playing field:
This levels the playing field for candidates who may not have had previous interview experience, but are interested in finding a new role.
2) Reduces anxiety:
Job interviews can be very stressful for candidates and this can often taint the interview performance of individuals. In knowing the questions beforehand, they can prepare their answers and present the best versions of themselves.
3) Promoting transparency
If being transparent is something that aligns with your company values and morals, then this is a great way to promote this. It demonstrates that the company is not only open and honest, but that they value a fair and open recruitment process.
4) Supporting neurodivergent candidates
Research has shown that traditional interview settings can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent candidates. Providing questions ahead of time allows candidates to process and organise their thoughts in a manner that suits them.
The cons:
1) Over-preparation:
One potential downside is that candidates may simply over-prepare or memorise answers, which decreases the authenticity of an interview. This could cloud an interviewer’s judgment as to whether a candidate is right for a role.
2) Elimination of unique insights:
Interviewers often look for unique perspectives and insights that often come from a candidate thinking on their feet. If all candidates give answers that sound the same, deciding who stands out becomes a little trickier.
Despite being split on the decision, one key takeaway is that this will definitely benefit neurodivergent candidates.
For individuals who struggle with social interactions, processing speeds, and working memory, having the comfort of being able to prepare more thoroughly is a huge advantage.
We look forward to hearing the success that John Lewis has with this new approach!
Do you need help with your interview preparation, as either a candidate or a hiring business? Check out our handy guides here: