Preface to the first edition ix

1 Old and new selection methods 1
We've always done it this way

2 Validity of selection methods 25
How do you know it works?

3 Job description, work analysis and competences 55
If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else

4 The interview 71
'I know one when I see one'

5 References and ratings 94
The eye of the beholder

6 Tests of mental ability 110
'a … man of paralysing stupidity'

7 Assessing personality by questionnaire 138
Do you worry about awful things that might happen?

8 Alternative ways of assessing personality 173
What year was the Bataan death march?

9 Biodata and weighted application blanks 192
How old were you when you learned to swim?

10 Assessment centres 207
Does your face fit?

11 Emotional intelligence and other methods 227
'Success in work is 80% dependent on emotional intelligence'

12 Criteria of work performance 246
'the successful employee… does more work, does it better, with less supervision'

13 Minorities, fairness and the law 268
Getting the numbers right

14 The value of good employees 289
The best is twice as good as the worst

15 Conclusions 307
Calculating the cost of smugness

References 319

Index 348