Interviewed by a Whole Department?

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Question: I have been employed (private sector) by the same private employer for many years and I applied for a position at a university (public). The interview was all day and by the entire department (30 or so employees). It was an interrogation! I understand that the university wanted everyone to feel part of the decision making, (shared blame if candidate doesn't work out, etc.) but why put a person through the gauntlet? Some may not like my skills or personality but I may not like theirs either. What are the statistics about success in hiring regarding one-to-one interviews or one-to-many interviews?

Answer: Your interview does sound a bit like an interrogation. But, the answer may be as simple as the leader determined that everyone in the department needed a voice in determining whether their candidates fit the department's culture. Or, the process may red flag you that the position and department might not be a good fit for you. Think about it from both perspectives.

The goal of many interviews is to help the department members "own" the candidate and help the person succeed when he or she comes onboard. Approaches to interviewing depend on the organization's culture and what they are trying to accomplish. At my company, private sector, up to twenty people might interview a candidate in a first and second interview, but it depends on the position.

The last time I was interviewed for a university position, fourteen people met with me around a conference room table for hours.

The only stats I have seen on an interview's contribution to a successful hire are in this article about selecting and hiring employees, but it depends on what they were trying to accomplish with their interviews. Also, approaches to candidates often evolve over time based on what organizations have found successful in the past.

• Job Interview Tips: How to Interview Potential Employees.
• Interviewing Tips and Interviewing Techniques.
• Second Interview Tip.

Read earlier blog posts.