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EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY
many occupations require a certain ability in filing. To
discover something of an applicant’s ability in this
direction, he may be placed before an assortment of files
and parts and be asked to do one or more pieces of filing.
The files which he picks up and the manner in which he
handles them will be a token to the expert of his ability
in this respect.
Naturally, it cannot be expected that these devices and
tests for choosing and rating applicants can be perfect
or final. Not until the worker is actually engaged at his
task and confronted with definite and unexpected problems
will his genuine ability and experience be fully displayed.
The logical step after those which have now
been described is a period of approval, during which the
new worker is given actual work and closely observed
under conditions of normal activity. However, this phase
of employment must be left for another discussion. In
the meanwhile, the methods suggested if carefully worked
out and conscientiously applied, will greatly facilitate
both the classification and the rating of applicants before
they are turned into the larger organization. And in.
working out the technique for a procedure covering these
phases of employment, the psychologist can be of great
value to the experts who will be required to work out the
details of the demonstration and the questions to be asked.
For the psychologist, aside from his knowledge of the workings
of the mind, is familiar with the requirements of an
exact technique such as will be essential if these phases
of employment are to be placed upon a sound and scientific
basis. When the questions to be asked an applicant are
given the careful attention and experimental study described,
then the answers obtained will have a genuine
value.
