The Pros and Cons of Sharing Interview Questions Early

How often have you scheduled interviews with candidates who appeared to be perfect matches for your open positions only to be disappointed with the candidates’ performances in interviews? You could tell the candidates were nervous (i.e. fidgeting, playing with their hair, speaking too fast, stumbling over their words, sweating, etc.). Have you ever wondered if perhaps candidates would do better during the interview if you shared some of the questions in advance? How different would candidates feel and perform in interview situations if they knew the questions beforehand? Would that lead to a fairer assessment of their skills and experience? This article admits that providing candidates with interview questions in advance is a double-edged sword. It discusses the pros and cons of doing so and offers suggestions for finding the middle ground and a balanced approach to the interview process. The article concludes by suggesting that if “employers want to create a more inclusive interview process, they should consider experimenting with the option of providing some interview questions in advance based on level of responsibility for specific roles. Use feedback from candidates and hiring managers to refine your approach. Candidates will appreciate your thoughtful efforts to reduce interview stress and make the process more transparent.”

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