What is Observation Interview?
An observation interview is a method of conducting an interview where the interviewer observes the interviewee in a specific situation or task, rather than asking them a set of predetermined questions. The interviewer typically observes the interviewee’s behavior, actions, and interactions, and makes note of their skills, abilities, and performance in the given situation. This type of interview is often used in situations where the interviewer wants to assess the interviewee’s skills and abilities in a specific context, such as a job-related task or scenario. It may be used in fields such as sales, customer service, and training, where the observation of specific skills and abilities is important for the job. Observation interviews can be conducted in various ways, such as in-person, through video conferencing, or through recorded videos.
What are the types and examples of Observation Interviews?
Following are the types of observation interviews:
- Direct observation: This type of observation interview involves the interviewee being aware that their performance is being evaluated and watched by the interviewer.
- Continuous monitoring: This type of observation interview requires the interviewer to monitor the interviewee’s behavior or body language continuously.
- Time allocation: This type of observation interview allows the interviewer to randomly select a place and time for observation.
- Unobtrusive observation: This type of observation interview involves the interviewer observing the interviewee without their knowledge, during the interview.
What are the benefits of observation interviews?
There are several benefits of using observation interviews, some of them include:
- Assessing skills and abilities in a specific context: Observation interviews are useful in assessing the interviewee’s skills and abilities in a specific context, such as a job-related task or scenario.
- Insights into behavior and actions: Observation interviews can provide insights into the interviewee’s behavior, actions, and interactions in a given situation, which can be difficult to gain through other types of interviews.
- Greater objectivity: Observation interviews can provide a more objective view of the interviewee’s performance, as the interviewer is observing their behavior and actions in a specific situation or task.
- Better decision-making: Observation interviews provide data-driven insights, which can be used to make better-informed decisions.
- Increased validity: Observation interviews can provide a more valid assessment of the interviewee’s skills and abilities as it is based on their actual performance in a specific situation or task.
- Better understanding of the interviewee: Observing the interviewee’s behavior, actions and interactions in a specific context allows the interviewer to gain a better understanding of how the interviewee acts in the specific role they are applying for.
- Greater efficiency: Observation interviews can be more efficient than traditional interviews, as the interviewer can observe multiple candidates in a short period of time.
