The influence of applicant communication style and interviewer characteristics on hiring decisions

Examined the influence on hiring decisions of (1) gender and communication style of job applicants and (2) gender and sex-role stereotyping (SRS) of interviewers. 32 male and 24 female personnel officers viewed simulated employment interviews, in which male and female candidates used aggressive, assertive, or nonassertive styles of communication. Ss were most likely to employ assertive applicants. Ss who were low in SRS were more likely to hire a nonassertive than an aggressive candidate, while Ss with higher levels of SRS were more likely to hire aggressive candidates. For assertive candidates, Ss' judgments of the perceived similarity of the candidate to themselves and their liking for the applicant influenced their decision to hire the candidate. For aggressive and nonassertive candidates, the Ss' liking toward the candidate mediated the relationship between perceived similarity and hiring decisions