The Guardian · 28 Sep, 10:10 · Business briefing

Job interviews are a weird business – but what’s the alternative? | Emma Beddington

Emma Beddington’s analysis in The Guardian examines the inherent quirks and potential biases of traditional job interviews.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Emma Beddington’s analysis in The Guardian examines the inherent quirks and potential biases of traditional job interviews. The piece questions whether conventional interview formats effectively predict job performance or merely test a candidate’s ability to perform in a high-pressure, artificial setting. It explores the tension between established hiring practices and emerging evidence suggesting these methods may be flawed. The article considers what viable alternatives might exist for assessing talent more accurately, prompting a broader debate on recruitment efficiency and fairness within the modern professional landscape.

Employer demand for Interviewing Techniques skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This shift forces you to rethink how you present your value beyond scripted answers. As organisations move away from rigid interview formats, demonstrable skills and portfolio evidence gain prominence. You should prioritise showcasing tangible outcomes over rehearsed narratives. Professionals in creative or technical fields must ensure their work samples speak louder than their verbal self-promotion. Focus on building a robust digital footprint that validates your expertise. Anticipate assessments based on real-world problem-solving rather than hypothetical scenarios. Adapt your preparation strategy to highlight adaptability and practical application. This evolution rewards those who can prove competence through evidence, making continuous skill validation and transparent career documentation essential for your next career move.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Interviewing Techniques, Human Resources, People Analytics Strategy and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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