Big Think Only high performers pass this kind of job interview | Tyler Cowen
Oct 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, economist Tyler Cowen shares his insights on redefining job interviews. He argues that traditional questions often just assess a candidate's prep skills, missing their true potential, especially in creative fields. Cowen advocates for spontaneous, unscripted conversations to reveal authenticity and real decision-making abilities. He emphasizes the importance of trust between interviewer and candidate to foster honest interactions, ultimately suggesting that better talent allocation can drive significant economic growth.
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Prep vs. True Ability
- Common interview questions mainly test how well candidates prepared, not their underlying abilities.
- This selection bias favors conscientious, well-prepared people and can miss bolder creative talent.
Use Unscripted Conversations
- Use unscripted, natural conversations to get candidates into an authenticity mode rather than reading fixed questions.
- Change venues and let spontaneous decisions surface so you can observe real behavior and thinking.
Observe Social Signals
- Watch how candidates interact with other people and how they talk about teams and hierarchies to reveal ambition and fit.
- Aim to hear how they process ideas, value tradeoffs, and treat relationships instead of hunting for a pet answer.
