The Same But Different: Standardizing Interview Procedures in the Multinational

In this paper, the reality of attempted standardization of recruitment interviewing in a multinational company is presented. The focus in this instance is on recruitment in a single multinational in three superficially similar North European countries: the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany. The organization on which the study was based wanted to improve the diversity of its recruitment and offer fair opportunities to all. The results of this study indicate that any standardization of procedures in multinationals must take into account the influence of cultural differences in implementation. On the basis of the case presented here, the Dutch will implement procedures precisely as a matter of compliance and fairness on a social contract basis; the Germans will emphasize the discourse around standard procedure implementation and want to ensure a full and thorough discussion; and Britons will take a pragmatic approach with procedures seen as recommended guidelines only. The implications of the findings for the case study company and its efficiency in recruiting diverse individuals are discussed.