Being on an interview panel

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I was on a peer interview panel for an applicant to my unit. We were supposed to have one internal applicant and one external applicant.

I guess the external applicant withdrew their application.

We were talking after and discussing the pros and cons of being an internal candidate versus an external candidate. As interviewers, we knew the applicant well and had to try and be super objective; not read more into responses where there was not a clear answer because we knew this person's work.

Because there was only one applicant at this time, the position has been re-posted and we are hoping for more applicants either internal or external.

Anyone have advice about interviewing internal applicants and being super objective? We decided that it can be a double edged sword, so to speak: we know the good parts but we also know whether answers to questions are "reheorificed" and do not match what out experience is.

Very interesting experience.

Then there are the unofficial "meeting" after the meeting discussing soft skills and other things that one is not supposed to consider (dress, appearance, etc).

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I think peer interviews are a poor way to evaluate candidates for this very reason. If you have tons of internal candidates, it turns into a popularity contest and internal candidates will always have the advantage over those coming in that may be more qualified for the job.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

That's what we originally were thinking, but there were some answers that the candidate made that directly contradicted what we knew of that person's actual behavior. In a previous interview experience, we went with the internal candidate and we probably should have made a different recommendation.

It also just so happened that 2 of the people on the panel had not good experiences with the applicant so there was a bias that is just human nature.

It is a skill to be a good interviewer and I am really would like to get better at it. Thx!!!!