THE EXAMINATIONS AT WORK 2)
be found convenient for testing small groups. But where all
applicants are given a mental alertness test as part of the
routine procedure of examination, a small group-examina-
tion room should be set aside primarily for this purpose.
The procedure. No one has ever proposed abolishing the
personal interview and relying wholly on objective tests in
employment procedure. Personal history record, interview
and tests should supplement each other. The usual practice
is for the interviewer to see the applicant first. If he dis-
covers no outstanding characteristics of the candidate ob-
viously rendering him unsuited for the job, he explains the
nature of the work, the working conditions and the rate and
method of pay, and indicates something of the company
policies. Then if the applicant is interested, the interviewer
sees that the application blank is filled out and turns the
applicant over to the examiner.
After such a preliminary sifting, the examinations should
be the deciding factor. The interviewer conserves the time
of both applicant and examiner by promptly eliminating any
who are obviously unqualified. At the same time he makes
the first contact of the applicant with the firm a personal
and helpful one. The interviewer may also take over the
administration of the questionnaires and may rate the appli-
cant. He should be entrusted with the task of finally seeing
the applicant and informing him of his selection or rejec-
tion. The examiner administers the tests and may also rate
the applicant. Physical and medical examinations, and in-
terview with the foreman or department head under whom
the new employee will work, are also usually considered in-
dispensable steps before the employee is finally placed on the
pay-roll.
Examiner as interviewer. Sometimes the examiner is en-
trusted with the responsibility of conducting the employ-
ment interview, as well as of administering the tests. In
this event he should never overlook the fact that the inter-
viewer has three functions: to get information, to give in-
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