The Job Interview: Edison’s Invention?

Thomas Edison may be the most famous inventor of all time, known for creating or contributing to many technologies that define human civilization, including light bulbs, batteries, and motion pictures. But did you know that Edison also invented the modern job interview?

Edison wasn’t a solitary genius working alone in a secret lab. He employed more than 10,000 people across dozens of companies. Given the complexity of his work and the nature of his cutting-edge technologies, Edison needed to find the right people for intricate roles. To do that, he developed extensive questionnaires known as Edison Tests.

Today’s job interviews often include questions beyond the specific job role. Edison was one of the first to include broader considerations in his interviews. For example, he might serve a candidate soup and see if they salted it before tasting it. If they did, it suggested they were quick to jump to conclusions, making them a poor fit for research work.

Many employers didn’t focus much on personality fit for specific jobs. Edison’s written test contained 140 questions, and prospective employees had to score 90 percent or higher to pass. When the test was administered 1921 to 718 people, only 32 passed, roughly 2 percent. Even Albert Einstein failed the test at one point.

Interestingly, Edison might also have accidentally invented news leaks. A copy of the Edison Test was leaked to the New York Times, forcing Edison to rewrite it once it hit print.

Edison’s approach to hiring reflected his understanding that finding the right people was as important as the inventions themselves. By considering personality traits and critical thinking skills, Edison aimed to build a team capable of pushing the boundaries of innovation. His method laid the groundwork for modern job interviews, which still seek to uncover the skills and character of potential employees.

While job interviews have evolved since Edison’s time, the core idea remains: finding the right person for the right job. Edison’s innovative approach to hiring reminds us that true genius lies not only in invention but also in recognizing the potential in others.