Here are a few examples of the many shortcuts and biases that people utilize when making decisions.  They are typically used out of convenience as they allow people to minimize the cognitive effort needed to search for information.  Research suggests that the shortcuts dont always lead to bad decisions but they can lead to less optimal or poor decisions.  You might explain them within the context of performing a job interview and carry the example all the way through the remaining module. 

Halo-  Sometimes evaluators will rate specific attributes based on a general impression of a person rather than knowledge about that specific attribute.  Thus, obvious attributes such as attractiveness may impact interviewers judgment about communication skills or job knowledge. 

Negative Information-  Almost all information given in an interview is positive.  However, negative information is weighted more heavily than positive information when making an overall evaluation.  This may put some applicants at an unfair disadvantage if they volunteer negative information.  

Stereotypes-  Everybody generates stereotypes as a form of organizing information.  Stereotypes can be useful for making predictions about future behavior.  However, a stereotype may not describe any one individual accurately.  People will rely more heavily on their stereotype when other information about a person is not available.  Thus, during a job interview, for example, it is critical to obtain a lot of information about peoples actual qualifications to avoid unfair discrimination due to stereotypes. 

Heuristics- These are rules of thumb that people develop to make judgment more efficiently.

One example is the confirmation bias, peoples tendency to seek information that supports their decision or beliefs while ignoring disconfirming evidence.  People tend to judge others based on first impressions.  Thus, if an interviewer has decided that an applicant is unfit for the job, the interviewer is likely to place more value on evidence that supports this hunch rather than seeking information that might prove the hunch wrong.