In the recent Wayne County race for Prosecuting Attorney, I must admit concerns relative to how that office operates, and the positive outcomes that justify keeping the incumbent, Kym Worthy.
Newcomer Victoria Burton-Harris seems to bring new ideas and new energy to what feels like an old, systemic, problem-ladened office. Both candidates have significant points of view, but experience won out in the casting of my vote. This Democratic race (because there are no Republicans that threw their hat into this ring) reminds me of something that can occur in the hiring process, and I thought it's worth sharing. Many companies have moved to an interview as the sole assessment for hiring decisions. I've never been a proponent of a one-rung assessment structure, especially if 1) it's behavior-based interviewing and 2) the hiring managers are not calibrated to recognize bias and the pitfalls associated with consensus assessment reviews. As a certified behavior-based interviewer, I have come to know that the halo/horns effect can impact a candidate's rating when hiring managers are on panels with their superiors. That superiors liking (or disliking) of a candidate based on "non-relevant" factors like alma mater; age; race; gender can seep into the process. What's most important is, does the candidate match both the skills needed today (and in the future) and the values that the organization embodies? Both of our "candidates" would have probably done considerably well on a behavior-based interview with questions like: "Tell me about a time when you had to make an unpopular decision." "Tell me about a time when you failed to accomplish your goal." But what the role in question needs is relevant experience, which requires more than transferable skills. Someone that has never worked in a prosecutor's office or role has to bring more than the ability to problem-solve and cast vision. When you assess candidates, make sure you utilize a composite of various areas of assessment, with experience as an important consideration. Experience is not the only consideration but an important one. There are important roles that will require it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPassion Activist, Love Strategist and Composer of Passionate Thoughts Marcus R Holmes Archives
August 2020
Categories |