Reducing first-impression bias in 4 steps

First impressions form in seconds and quietly steer the rest of an interview. You can't switch them off, but you can design a process that keeps them from doing the deciding.

Four changes that move the needle

• Score each competency before discussing the candidate with the panel.
• Review async answers in a randomized order, not by application time.
• Hide names and photos for the first screen where the role allows it.
• Require a written rationale for every score, however brief.

None of these are dramatic. Stacked together over a quarter, they widened our funnel measurably — and the hires held up.