+1 C

A - We cannot conclude that. There are other factors.
B - Out of scope.
C - It explains why interviews are important. - Correct.
D - Too extreme.
E - This information cannot be supported by the argument.
_________________

The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.

The argument above logically depends on which of the following assumptions?

The main point of this argument is that the interview is essential. The rest of the question tells us why.

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.
the main point is about the interview being essential and not about the success of a hiring program. Therefore, adding this to the argument is not going to strengthen it.

(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description.
if inserted as a premise, this statement does not strengthen the argument.

(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.
this statement effectively strengthens the argument and is an example of a 'new idea'. Basically, this is a defender type assumption that if not included in the main stem lets people attack the argument on the grounds that interviewers may not be able to accurately identify suitable personalities for the job. If this were the case, then it can be shown that the interview is not really essential to the hiring process.

(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job.
this is an extreme statement and one should always be wary of these on the GMAT. Also, this statement does not strengthen the argument.

(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions.
this statement to an extent weakens the argument a little. It implies that the applicant personality is not the most important factor anymore. Thus, one could question the importance of the interview in the hiring process.

On prethinking : p1: Interview essential to hiring of candidates --> job applicatins who are suited to the job requirements are considered rest eliminated .

So someone / interview must be able to see through and make this decision ... so i marked C ?
Which is indeed correct .
But i confused with D , it also seems correct only for the word "Only" - Which makes it too strong a statement ? Can you please guide me through this ?

Hi Shelrod,

Option D seems to strengthen the argument. IT also provides new information that is not there in the argument.

But an assumption must satisfy three characteristics. Option D satisfies the two as I mentioned above. What is the third characteristic?

The third characteristic is that an assumption must be true for the conclusion to hold true. So, if we negate the assumption, the our belief in the conclusion must gets shattered. Ok.

Now, let's negate option D.

To evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job is not the only purpose of an interview.

So, there are possibly other purposes of an interview. But does that decrease or shatter your belief in the conclusion that an interview must be an essential part of successful hiring program?

The answer is NO. Just because an interview serves more than purpose does not make it any less likely to be an essential part of a successful hiring program. On the other hand, if an interview serves more than one purpose, then it seems more likely that it should be a part of the successful hiring program.

So, the negated option D does not shatter or decrease the belief in the conclusion.

Therefore, option D is not an assumption.

Does this help?

Thanks,
Chiranjeev
_________________

37 sec.... straight (C)

job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated -> So HR must be able to discover such factors...

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.
(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description --> wrong comparison
(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job --> CORRECT. As assumed above.
(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job --> we don't know what is the only purpose from the text
(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions --> can not be assumed from the text. We don't have any time indocators or time comparisons in the text

Once you have answered the question, here is my doubt.


So this question states that interviewing is an essential part of the hiring process. Doesn't that mean, that hiring will be successful if it includes interviews? Why is this statement not the correct answer choice?

On the other hand, for option C, isn't it a little out of scope? Because there is no mention of any interviewers and their ability to identify candidates. so it isn't really in the scope of what is being discussed but on the other hand, option A clearly is within scope.

Am I missing anything? Experts please reply.

Please explain why I am wrong here.

prep
Though im not an expert, here's my 0.02$
Please note this is an Assumption question. An assumption has to fill the 'logical gaps' or 'bridge the gaps'.

Passage analysis:
Premise: (because), with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.
Conclusion:The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program

Analysis:
Interview can eliminate unsuitable applicants -------> Interview is essential

=>For above to hold true, the interview process needs to be sound
=>The interviewer needs to be sound
=>Interviewers is one of the missing link (basic requirement for an assumption) for the above relation to be true

Why is C correct:
(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.
It does exactly the same as we thought. Makes sure that interviewers are sound. If we negate this, the argument will break.

Why is A wrong:
First of all this cannot be an assumption. It can be a strengthener or a 'may'-be-true though.
Here's how we can negate this and still not affect the argument:
Argument says that interview is an essential part and not a required part of a successful hiring program. Therefore we can still make our hiring program successful even if we do not include Interviews in it.

Please note that the negation test should always work on an assumption.

Hope this helps

By through reading we can easily deduce that the conclusion rests on the assumption - ' Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job '.Because if we negate this option the conclusion falls apart
Correct Answer - C

FACT : Job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration
Conclusion : The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program

Prethinking : 1) Job applicants always show their actual personalities and are not too nervous to present themselves who they are.

2: Interviewers know how to identify the required personalities for the specifc job very well.

a) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews. --> Too Extreme to consider.
b) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description. --> Irrelevant.
c) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job. --> As per Pre thinking point 2. Hence Correct answer.
d) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job. --> There could be other purposes.
e) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions. --> Irrelevant.
_________________

The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.

The Assumption lies in the question: Why do interviewers need interview?

The argument above logically depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.
We are not concerned about the successful hiring program. Interviews might be really great but that does not translate into a successful hiring program.

(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description.
We are not concerned about the job description.

(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.
This is the reason why interviews are conducted. This is what they assume when they are conducting the interview.

(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job.
Very tempting answer but "The only purpose" is way to extreme which is not being shown in premise.

(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions
Doesn't answer the question!

Breakup : 1. The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because,
2. Job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.

That means the person who is taking interview is well versed to figure out whose personality is not suited for the job.

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.
This is not an assumption for the given passage.

(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description.
Out of scope

(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.
If interviewers can accurately identify the personalities who are unsuited to the requirement of the job, then only they can eliminate such persons who are unsuited for the job.

(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job.
This might not be the only purpose. We can't take it as an assumption.

(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions
Out of scope.

The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration. The argument above logically depends on which of the following assumptions?

Known Information:
The personalities that are unsuited for organization will be eliminated in Interviews.

Analysis:
Interview is the only way the unsuited personalities would be identified. The entire process depends on interview. So the author bases his assumption that interviewer is capable of doing that.

We need to look for option that says this.

a) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews - But this says nothing about how it will be successful - Irrelevant
b) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description - This restates the author's views - Irrelevant
c) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job - Bingo, this is what we wanted to hear.
d) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job - I am clear about purpose but will it be successful - Out of scope
e) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions - Out of scope

Ans: C
_________________

The moment we negate (C) then it is read as Interviewers cannot accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job. It pokes a hole in the argument. Hence (C) is the correct answer.
_________________

The words "depends on which of the following assumptions" indicate that this is an Assumption question. The correct choice will be something the author left out but must believe to be true.

The author says the graduate school interview is essential because the schools use the interview to eliminate students whose personalities are not suited to the program.

Notice the gap here. What does an interview have to do with "personalities not suited to the program"? The author must believe that through the interview, the schools can determine whether the interviewee has a personality not suited to the program.

(C) matches the prediction and is correct. If admissions officers could not accurately identify unsuitable applicants, then interviews couldn't play such an essential role in the admissions program. So the argument depends on (C) being true.

(A) is not something on which the argument depends. The author just said the interview is essential for eliminating applicants who aren't suited to the program. She doesn't have to assume that the interviews will lead to the best applicants actually being admitted.

(B) makes an irrelevant comparison. The author just says the interview is "an essential" part of the admissions process. Her logic doesn't depend on the interview being more significant than course of study.

(D) is extreme. The author doesn't have to believe that the only purpose of the interview is the one stated in the stimulus. The author just has to believe that the purpose she chose to discuss can be realized through the interview.

(E) is incorrect because whether fitting applicants' personalities to the course requirements "was once the most important factor" has nothing to do with the argument. The author's logic doesn't depend on anything about the past. It simply requires that the author believe the interviewer can actually determine the interviewee's personality through the interview.

Posted from my mobile device
_________________

Interview is necessary for a successful hiring program.
because Interview eliminates job applicants who have personalities that are not suited to the requirements of the job

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.

Interview is essential (necessary) for a successful program. It is not sufficient. So we cannot say that a hiring program WILL BE successful with an interview. Though we can say that the hiring program will NOT be successful if it doesn't have an interview.

(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description.

More/less important than others is not known.

(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.

Correct. We are given that interviews eliminate job applicants who have personalities that are not suited to the requirements of the job.

(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job.

Not given. The argument does not say that it is the only purpose. It says that an interview does this successfully.

(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions

No discussion of what was once the important factors in making hiring decisions.

Answer (C)
_________________

This is the Supporter type assumption where new information is presented in Conclusion and Premise. And this new information should be linked through Assumption.
Premise: Interview helps to eliminate candidates who are unsuited to the job requirements
Conclusion: Hence, the interview is an integral part of a successful hiring process.
LINK: Through Interview, one(interviewer) is able to judge the candidate as per the requirements of the job

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews- We are not concerned with the success rate of the interview process

(B) The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description- we are not supposed to compare the two entities

(C) Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job- In a line with our assumption- Hold on

(D) The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job- We are not concerned with the purpose of an interview. We are more concerned with the result of an interview

(E) The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions- Out of scope

Answer: C
Level: 500

HI VeritasKarishma


(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.

Interview is essential (necessary) for a successful program. It is not sufficient. So we cannot say that a hiring program WILL BE successful with an interview. Though we can say that the hiring program will NOT be successful if it doesn't have an interview.


The conclusion is a necessary condition: Interview is essential for a successful program.
Why can't we assume a sufficient condition for a necessary conclusion.
What I am trying to understand is , if we negate this statement, the argument does fall apart.
THen why is this option not a valid assumption?

Regards
Nitesh

Nitesh, an assumption is not what we assume, it is what the author assumes to give his argument. We need to only identify the author's assumption in arriving at the conclusion. We can't "assume" a sufficient condition for a necessary condition. We need to say what the author assumes.

Note that an assumption is a missing necessary premise, and that is what you must look for. Focussing only on negation is not a good strategy.

As for negation, check: https://gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep ... l#p2203029

(A) A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.

To negate, "a hiring program may not be successful if it includes interviews"

It does not make the conclusion fall apart. An interview is essential, it may not be enough.
_________________

Hello Experts,

Could you please help me clarify a doubt:
Option C says that the interviewers will be able to accurately identify. But isn't the premise already stating that "interviews" will eliminate candidates whose personalities are unfit for the role.

This option kind of strengthens the premise, and its negation will obviously break down the argument because it breaks down the premise. Isn't it?

Can anyone please help me understand then how this option is an assumption?

Regards,
Rishav