Abstract

Do interviews enable workers to learn about firms? Using data on a half-million interviews, we find candidates for professional jobs more often reject job offers when they believe the interview was easy. Analysis of interview narratives using large language models reveals difficult interviews signal colleague ability whereas easy interviews convey a nonselective process. In a small-scale randomized field experiment, an exogenous increase in interview difficulty elevated perceived difficulty and boosted engagement with the vacancy. Interviews appear to preview match quality for workers, highlighting a novel channel through which labor markets may become less efficient if firms automate hiring with AI.

Country of study

United States

Research Topic(s)