[imagesource:befunky]

A boss has gone viral on social media after sharing an interview process he calls the “coffee cup test” to filter candidates in job interviews, but some social media users are accusing him of playing mind games with jobseekers.

Trent Innes, a chief growth officer at SiteMinder, revealed during a podcast that when he only hires people if they offer to take their coffee cups to the kitchen at the end of an interview.

Innes explained that he always takes candidates for a walk to the kitchen to offer them a drink whether it be water, coffee, a cup of tea, or a soft drink. “Then we take that back and have our interview and one thing I’m always looking for is at the end of the interview is that the person doing the interview wants to take their empty cup back to the kitchen,” he said.

“You can develop skills, you can gain knowledge, and gain experience but it really does come down to attitude.”

Indeed, but whose attitude Trent?

He continued: “What I was trying to find was what was the lowest level task I could find that regardless of what you do inside the organization was still super important.”  Innes notes that most candidates did offer to take back their cup with only a few that didn’t.

The podcast was recorded in 2019, but like most things we so willingly throw onto the internet, it has now resurfaced on social media, being shared on both TikTok and Reddit, with some users saying that Innes’ strategy is manipulative.

One comment with over 24,000 likes said: “I feel like it’s weird to wash your own cup at an interview when you’re a guest there. I’d prob just ask what they want me to do with the cup.”

Another user commented: “Good to know. If an employer plays mind games like this. It’s an immediate red flag for me. I end the interview right there.”

Not sure how I feel about this. Cleaning up after yourself is right up there with towelling your face dry before using the towel on your ass crack – it’s just a good habit. But this guy seems like the kind of boss who expects you to do his dry-clean runs without telling you to. It’s all about ‘intuitive initiative’.

Simon Sinek should look into this.

Fortunately here at 2OV, Seth only allows a water cooler filled with tequila, which is filled every two days, and we usually just lie down under the tap when we get thirsty, so no cup washing is required. We do need to get a new tequila sponsor though, so if there is a boss out there who wants to play mind games, we’re in.

Coffeebreak time, gotta go rinse (fill) my cup (mouth) with water (tequila). Thanksh Sheth.

[source:businessinsider]