When is it best to use the group interview to collect job analysis information?

Job analysis definition: according to Recruitment and Selection in Canada a job analysis is “a systematic process for gathering, documenting, and analyzing data about the work required for a job.” It’s the first step in the recruitment process and an essential step in hiring the right candidate. Simply put, if you’re hiring someone you need to analyze the role to determine what knowledge, skills, and other characteristics are required of the employee.

Ultimately, a job analysis should include a job description (duties, responsibilities, and performance objectives) as well as characteristics needed for the job (skills, specific knowledge, and abilities). It might also include the context of the position, primary responsibilities, and information about working conditions.

How do I conduct a job analysis?

This is something that everyone does differently but there is a formal process. Here is a simplified version:

1. Decide on your data source, who conducts a job analysis? - who will you be asking for information? This will usually include a subject matter expert, supervisors, other employees, or even a job analyst. Always start with the collection of background information about the job.

2. What type of data do you need? - Ask about tasks, duties, and responsibilities. You may also want to ask about knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. Use this data to make a task inventory or structured questionnaire.

3. Write the job description based on this information. - Here are some things to think about when writing:

  • What is the employee required to do?
  • How are they supposed to do it?
  • What rationale is needed for required job procedures (ex. qualifications or certifications)

4. What methods are needed to make the hiring decision? - You can choose multiple: interviews, questionnaires, practical exercises, etc.

Why is a job analysis important? What are the benefits of a job analysis?

A job analysis is the cornerstone of all HR functions.

It’s an essential tool of selection science. It’s an evidence-based method that helps to match a job’s requirements with a candidate’s characteristics. It forms the basis of HR functions like how to hire, how to interview, managing performance, and compensation.

A job analysis makes your HR systems legally defensible.

Although a job analysis is not legally required before a selection program is implemented, employment decisions should still come from the basis of “job-related information”. In this sense, a job analysis is legally considered a way of determining “job-relatedness”. For example, in Canada, the Ontario Human Rights Commission states: “Organizations that have not defined the essential duties of a position, provided required accommodation and individually assessed ability to perform the essential duties will have difficulty defending themselves if a human rights complaint is filed.”

A job analysis helps to create structured interviews and a fair process.

A job analysis provides a clear basis from which hiring managers can plan and structure interviews. Interview questions should come directly from the knowledge and skills required for the role. With a clear job analysis, hiring managers can have one source of truth to refer to when writing questions and interviewing candidates. This helps to reduce bias in the interview process and ensure all candidates are asked the same, evidence-based questions.

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An unstructured interview involves question and response and may be free flowing but it becomes structured in the sense that the interviewer has a purpose and needs skill to


  • establish a relationship
  • ask well-structured questions to generate a conversational flow in which the interviewee offers information - factual, opinion, subjective and objective about aspects of the job
  • to ensure information recieved is heard and understood - listening, clarifying and reflective summarizing

Effective listening requires concentration and this can be disturbed by interruptions, the interviewer's own thought processes and dificulty in remaining neutral about what is being said. Notes need to be taken without loss of good eye contact. Cues need to be picked up so that further questions can be asked to probe issues and areas of interest.


Structured Interviews A structured interview may assume a definite format involving:

  • charting a job-holder's sequence of activities in performance
  • an inventory or questionnaire may be used
Care is needed to set up such interactions. A specialist analyst is not involved and participants need to know what they are doing, why and what is expected as a result. They may be intrained as interviewers and not structure the interview as recommended. Notes and records may be needed for subsequent analysis.

A structured interview may be akin to a staff appraisal or job evaluation interview carried out by a manager with a subordinate. The manager is the analyst.


Interview Outcomes

Interviewing is a flexible method for all levels and types of job. An interview may focus on what a hypothetical job might involve.

Interviews generate descriptive data and enable job-holders to interpret their activities. A good interviewer can probe sensitive areas in more depth. Structured questionnaires cannot easily do this. Jobholders can give overviews of their work and offer their perceptions and feelings about their job and the environment. Rigid questionnaires tend to be less effective where the more affective aspects of work are concerned.

Which method is best to collecting job analysis information?

The most effective technique when collecting information for a job analysis is to obtain information through direct observation as well as from the most qualified incumbent(s) via questionnaires or interviews.

When would an employer use a group interview technique?

Group interviews are best used by employers that need to find a large number of employees quickly—for example, start-up companies that need a large number of employees to open the business. This technique allows the employer the opportunity to screen a number of candidates at one time, reducing the interview process.

How interview are used in job analysis?

The Job Analysis Interview: method to collect a variety of information from an incumbent by asking the incumbent to describe the tasks and duties performed. Allows the incumbent to describe tasks and duties that are not observable. The incumbent may exaggerate or omit tasks and duties.

What are group interviews good for?

Group interviews offer the opportunity to really test a candidate's teamwork, communication and management skills rather than purely relying on what they tell you. It'll also give you an idea on those who may lack collaborative skills, which would be helpful if you're role revolves around teamwork.