When candidate interviews are conducted by multiple interviewers from different hierarchy levels, it can be challenging to have an unbiased interview panel meeting. Specifically, when senior participants share their opinion upfront and more junior participants/subordinates do not express a different point of view.

This is how paper clips will eliminate bias in an interview panel meeting:

• First of all, it is important that none of the meeting participants shares their view upfront. Instead, the meeting starts with the distribution of 3 paper clips for each participant.

• All meeting participants put their paper clip ‘vote’ on the table AT THE SAME TIME. They can choose between 3 clips (the perfect candidate), 2 clips (a pretty good candidate), 1 clip (big doubts) and 0 clips (no way).

• When all paper clips are on the table, the discussion & decision is short with similar votes. Having voted differently, participants share their rationale so that the panel can come to a joint decision.

Just try the paper clip method and you’ll be convinced by the results!

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