Final answer:
It is true that emphasizing job-related criteria is important for employers when evaluating candidates due to asymmetric information in the labor market. Employers rely on educational qualifications, accolades, and references as proxies for job-related attributes. While there may be biases, focusing on job-relevant criteria helps avoid hiring errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that employers must emphasize job-related criteria when identifying selection instruments and evaluating job candidates. This importance arises because of asymmetric information, which is prevalent in the labor market. Employers often face difficulties in observing many key attributes of potential employees, such as their energy levels, work ethics, and detail orientation, before hiring them. As a result, employers rely on educational qualifications, such as degrees from specific schools, awards, high grade point averages, and other accolades as signals of a candidate's hard work, perseverance, and ability. These credentials act as a form of pre-screening that can suggest an applicant's potential before an actual job performance can be observed.
Furthermore, references are sought for additional insights into important attributes that are not easily discernible from a resume or interview. Employers may avoid potential hiring mistakes by focusing on job-related criteria and selection instruments that align closely with the actual requirements of the position. However, studies have shown that hiring decisions can often be influenced by factors like physical attractiveness, similarity to the interviewer, and even subconscious biases, emphasizing the need for a structured process that focuses on job-relevant skills, knowledge, and abilities (KSAs).