A manager has admitted to giving candidates an alphabet test in job interviews and ultimately won't hire anyone who fails it.
Job interviews are stressful enough, there's no doubt about that. Whether it be ensuring you stay composed amid all the nerves, or asking that all important question to the employer upon the conclusion of the interview, there's certainly a lot to stay conscious of.
And on top of that you've got some managers bringing in tests within interviews, which can often help them decide on a candidate.
Advert
Many of these so-called tests have become the hot topic of conversation on Reddit after one user asked: "Managers, do you have special 'tests' for interviewees that you put them through without their knowing?"
One anonymous manager took to the comments of the post and said: "I invented a little test that got some positive interest from HR and some more dubious attention from the legal department. I call it the 'alphabet test'.
"At some point during the interview, I would request that the interviewee 'please do me a favour and take a pen and paper and write the alphabet for me.'"
Advert
The boss went on to explain how introducing the test within interviews has taught her a lot.
She continued: "This taught me two very important things. One, if they knew the alphabet, which was actually relevant to a most basic function of the job and surprisingly (or not) an occasional problem. Two, whether or not they could follow instructions and perform a very simple although seemingly stupid task as requested without asking me 'why?'"
While one Reddit user dubbed the test as 'stupid', others have praised the method introduced by the boss.
Advert
"This would be good in finding the mindless drones," one person commented.
They added: "As a manager, I would want people to understand why they are doing what they're doing and how it is relevant to the job, the department or the company. Sure, you get a lot of 'personalities' that way, but I find it preferable to working with sheep."
It comes after a fellow boss detailed the 'salt and pepper' test used during interviews.
"A company I used to work for does all-day interviews with multiple people, and one of them is always a lunch interview," a person detailing the test wrote on social media.
Advert
“I heard about a guy who would base his entire decision on one thing - whether or not the person he was interviewing tried their food before reaching for salt, pepper, hot sauce, etc.
"If you didn't try your food first, you didn't get a pass from him."
Callum Jones