The Group Interview as a Method of Efficient Hiring: The Experience of a Regional Medical School Campus

In 2020, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) established a regional campus in Temple, Texas (BCM-T), that required recruitment of multiple foundational sciences faculty members in a limited time frame. Group in-person interviews were used to fill these roles efficiently while promoting interaction between candidates and BCM faculty. This study assesses whether interviewing foundational sciences medical educators in a group setting can efficiently fill faculty positions, reducing time and financial costs while being perceived as fair and acceptable to the candidates.

Study participants were prospective foundational sciences faculty members who interviewed for a faculty position at BCM-T in a group interview setting between June 2022 and January 2023. Candidates were informed that several interviewees with differing areas of expertise would be present and that they were interviewing for multiple open positions, thus minimizing competitiveness. Individual interview components were candidate presentations and interviews, whereas meals and shared information presentations were in groups. After the positions were filled, candidates were given an anonymous electronic survey on interview impressions.

Interviews were completed in 4 days (decrease from the 10 days that would have been required if individual faculty interviews were used). Group interviews reduced interview-associated costs by approximately 50%. Interviewers reported that the interview format did not impact their ability to effectively evaluate and rank candidates. The anonymous electronic survey response rate was 60% (3 of 5 candidates). Survey results support that group interviews allowed candidates to communicate effectively, demonstrate competence, and promote fairness. All candidates indicated that they were satisfied with group interviews.

Future research could include a generalizability study to assess various facets to inform a decision study when applying the group interview method in a different context. Further validity evidence should be gathered, including long-term evaluation of the hiring decisions, before adoption elsewhere.