A Personnel Today online survey reveals 56 per cent of the 316 respondents
oppose guidelines in the Data Protection code on recruitment and selection,
which give job candidates the right to read interview notes.
The code, to be published later this month, aims to clarify
employers’ responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998 which came into
force on 24 October 2001.
James Darley, global team leader
graduate recruitment, global markets, Deutsche Bank
"To allow every candidate the opportunity to look at their
interview notes worries me. If you are not trained as an interviewer then notes
can be misconstrued. It is important to remember that when interviewing, notes
have to be written very quickly and observations such as ‘slouching in chair’
could be mistakenly seen as the reason they did not get the job."
Frances Wright, HR director,
psychometric testing company SHL
"The showing of notes can be misleading as they can be
taken out of context. I doubt if a third person could read my handwriting. When
interviewing you must get things down as quickly as possible without worrying
about whether someone can read your writing."
Carl Gilleard, CEO, the Associate
of Graduate Recruiters
"I can see it could be seen as a constraint and a
potential burden, as large organisations would have to set up huge files. It’s
another responsibility for the recruiter that could add another layer of
bureaucracy."
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Diane Sinclair, employment relations adviser, CIPD
"Showing applicants their interview notes could create an
added administrative burden for HR staff. Clear guidance is also needed. The
code must list the exemption circumstances where interviewees cannot see notes."
