Most managers and HR professional think they are good at objective interviewing- when in fact they are influenced by all sorts of subconscious bias. A recent study (with the wonderful title of “The Imbibing Idiot”) highlights this by reporting that applicants who order an alcoholic beverage when taken to dinner or lunch during the interviewing process are perceived as less intelligent- even by those interviewers who ordered an alcoholic beverage themselves. The study authors, Scott Rick of the University of Michigan and Maurice E. Schweitzer of the University of Pennsylvania, also reported the job candidates fail to anticipate that ordering an alcoholic beverage will reduce their perceived intelligence.
What can we learn from this as interviewers? Recognize that we all bring some degree of bias to an interview. Use scorecards, assessment testing, and third party reviews to make the selection process as objective as possible. As applicants and employees we should consider how we want to be perceived before we order that glass of wine- even if the interviewer or boss just ordered one for themselves. Don’t forget your social media sites- no pictures of alcoholic beverages allowed for general viewing.
Join the conversation: Should you order an alcoholic beverage during interview? What if the interviewer is ordering one? Wouldn’t the Imbibing Idiots be a great name for a band?
