This boss uses a coffee test in every interview and won't employ those who fail

Virgin Radio

27 Apr 2021, 14:54

Would you get the job?

A boss has revealed the tactic he uses at job interviews to decide whether to offer someone the job. 

Trent Innes is a tech boss, and he says he puts potential job candidates through a very specific test.

He believes in his test so much that he actually blacklists anyone who fails. Eeek!

So do you stand a chance? 

He talked about it on a podcast, The Ventures. Trent said: "I will always take you for a walk down to one of our kitchens and somehow you always end up walking away with a drink.

"Then we take that back, have our interview, and one of the things I'm always looking for at the end of the interview is, does the person doing the interview want to take that empty cup back to the kitchen?

"You can develop skills, you can gain knowledge and experience but it really does come down to attitude, and the attitude that we talk a lot about is the concept of 'wash your coffee cup'."

He says this test is 'all about the 'culture' of a workplace.

The test apparently works as the office kitchen is always tidy.

He says: "If you come into the office one day inside Xero, you'll see the kitchens are almost always clean and sparkling and it's very much off that concept of 'wash your coffee cup'.

"It's really just making sure that they're actually going to fit into the culture inside Xero, and really take on everything that they should be doing."

Trent isn't alone in tests for employees. 

Someone posted on Reddit about how an interviewee learned to be nice to absolutely everybody, no matter who they are.

They wrote: "Today, a candidate blew his interview in the first five minutes after he entered the building.

"He was dismissive to the receptionist. She greeted him and he barely made eye contact. She tried to engage him in conversation. Again, no eye contact, no interest in speaking with her.

"What the candidate did not realise was that the 'receptionist' was actually the hiring manager. She called him back to the conference room and explained how  single person on our team is valuable and worthy of respect.

"Due to his interaction with the 'receptionist', the hiring manager did not feel he was a good fit. Thank you for your time but the interview is over.

"Be nice to  in the building."