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EMPLOYMENT  PSYCHOLOGY

Second,  it  provides  an  opportunity  to  observe  the  moral
qualities  which  the  individual  develops  in  the  course  of
his  work.
A  third  and  extremely  important  function  which  the
vestibule  school  serves  is  to  give  applicants  a  certain
amount  of  choice  in  their  work.  As  has  been  already  indicated, ­
  one  of  the  most  fruitful  sources  of  trouble  in  the
selection  of  workers  is  the  fact  that  they  do  not  like  the
work  for  which  they  are  chosen.  If  an  applicant  develops
an  emotional  aversion  for  a  certain  shop  or  job,  it  is  almost
certain  to  result  in  the  loss  of  that  worker.  No  matter  how
well  qualified  the  applicant  may  be  so  far  as  ability  is  concerned, ­
  he  is  likely  to  leave  at  the  first  opportunity.
This  is  a  factor  which  employers  have  not  taken  sufficiently ­
  into  account.  Too  often  the  attitude  has  been:
“Here  is  a  job,  take  it  or  leave  it.  Next!”  and  the  result
of  hiring  applicants  in  this  arbitrary  fashion  has  been  to
add  measurably  to  the  immense  labor  turnover  which
has  characterized  industry  in  general.
The  vestibule  school  offers  a  means  by  which  this
difficulty  can  be  in  part  overcome.  The  applicant  will  be
hired,  to  begin  with,  according  to  the  best  judgment  which
the  employment  manager  can  bring  to  bear.  He  will  be
given  the  benefit  of  a  physical  and  psychological  examination, ­
  and  of  a  sympathetic  interview.  After  the  employment ­
  office  has  selected  an  applicant  for  a  particular  position, ­
  he  will  be  sent  into  the  vestibule  school  to  be  trained
for  the  work  of  that  position.  During  this  period  it  will
become  possible  to  determine  whether  or  not  the  worker
shows  the  necessary  degree  of  interest  and  liking  for  the
task.
In  short,  the  vestibule  school  is  a  sort  of  laboratory  in
which  the  employee  may  be  handled  and  observed  under