Overcoming Bias in Your Interviews, Part II

One of the biggest hiring mistakes you can make happens in the first 10 minutes of an interview.

First impressions, which are based on emotions, biases, and stereotyping, lead to more hiring errors than any other single factor.  Even the most seasoned interviewers can fall into the first-impression trap and accept or reject an applicant within the first five to ten minutes of the interview.

Once the initial impression is made, the interviewer notices information to support that perception and disregards information that doesn’t.  Many managers admit that when they “like” the candidate, they stop asking questions and start to sell the virtues of the position and the company.