Personal bias in candidate assessments pertains to the tendency for an evaluator's preconceived notions, prejudices, or individual preferences to influence their judgment and ratings of candidates. When personal bias is present, an assessor may not objectively evaluate a candidate's qualifications or skills, leading to decisions that are not based solely on merit or job-related criteria.
This bias can manifest in a variety of ways, such as favoring candidates who share similar backgrounds, experiences, or views, or being unduly critical of candidates who are different. Personal bias undermines the fairness and integrity of the assessment process, which should ideally be rooted in objective evidence and standardized criteria.
By contrast, options that indicate objective evaluations or assessments based solely on job-related criteria reflect a fair and unbiased approach, which personal bias directly contradicts. Understanding personal bias is crucial for ensuring that assessments remain equitable, allowing all candidates to be evaluated on their true abilities and qualifications without undue influence from an evaluator's subjective views.