THE OBSERVATIONAL METHOD 
2 35 
ability necessary for an accountant. What an industry is 
interested in is not so much general qualities as specific 
abilities. This is an age of specialization in every field, of 
the utmost division of labor and talent. The task of the 
employment office of a large or a small industry is to 
classify applicants into groups which are as specific as 
are the various jobs which they are called upon to per 
form. For this task the old method of observation, even 
in the hands of the most skilled observer, is entirely in 
adequate. 
However, it may be claimed that observation, even if 
limited to general impressions, has a valuable place in the 
process of employment. This may be admitted and it 
may still be said that the place which at present it holds 
is far too valuable. Far too much weight is placed upon 
the results of observation. As one instance typical of the 
emphasis on observation are quoted the following items 
which, together with certain other items discussed in a 
previous chapter, appear on the application form of a very 
large industry well known for its progressive employment 
methods: 
Personal Appearance: Dress, neat medium 
or slovenly Carriage, alert medium or 
slouchy 
Initiative: Wants to lead in everything Creative 
Quiet pusher Prefers to be led Good 
Mixer 
Activity: Live wire nervously quick moder 
ate phlegmatic slow but steady 
These items are headed “Interviewer’s Impressions”, and 
constitute the chief basis upon which the applicant is 
hired. They are so characteristic and so frequently met