Smooth-sounding names may give job candidates an edge
Smooth-sounding names like Liam or Noelle may give job candidates an edge in hiring decisions, new research finds.
Why it matters
- Names with soft sounds may influence hiring decisions.
- Adds to evidence of biases in hiring beyond race and class.
By the numbers
- Consistent bias found across multiple experiments.
- Effect weaker with additional info like photos, videos.
The big picture
- Sound symbolism impacts perceptions in hiring.
- Bias persists even with more candidate information.
What they're saying
- Comments joke about name choices and critique hiring biases.
- Some note broader psychosocial impacts of names.
Caveats
- Bias effect weaker with more candidate information.
- Specific sample size and effect size not provided.