Job interviews are an essential step in the hiring process for employers to evaluate your professional profile. As an applicant, you may think that answering simple questions is enough to impress the hiring manager. However, it’s crucial to understand that job interviews can also include hidden tests that measure your honesty and reliability. We want to help you prepare for your job interviews like a pro. Our team is one step ahead and has uncovered the secrets behind common interview tricks. Keep reading to learn more and ace your next job interview.
1. Discover the “Coffee Cup” test for job interviews
In recent times, the “coffee cup” test has gained popularity among recruiters. During the interview, the hiring manager takes the interviewee to the kitchen to offer them a drink. At the end of the meeting, the employer observes the candidate’s response to the coffee cup: whether they inquire where to put it, leave it on the table, or wash it themselves in the kitchen.
Trent Innes, the former Managing Director of Xero Australia and Asia, who devised this method, asserts that: “This trick reveals more about a person’s character and manners than their answers to questions. It can also show how quickly the candidate will fit into a team. In this case, the right decision is to stop by the kitchen after the interview and scrub the mug yourself.”
2. The importance of punctuality and emotional stability in job interviews
Compared to this new job interview technique, the coffee cup test seems benign. When a candidate is scheduled for a 9 a.m. interview and arrives promptly after waking up early, only to be made to wait due to the employer’s “busy” schedule. The interviewee must endure waiting for 10 minutes, and then another 10… and eventually 15 minutes more.
This technique serves to reveal the applicant’s emotional stability when handling stressful situations and their eagerness to secure the position by demonstrating their level of patience. Punctuality and composure under pressure are valuable attributes that recruiters look for in their candidates.
3. Remaining composed under pressure during job interviews
Raising one’s voice, shouting, or even swearing is yet another tactic to simulate a stressful situation and test the limits of the candidate’s nerves. Experts recommend staying composed and responding to questions as calmly as possible.
It is essential to demonstrate emotional stability and composure during challenging situations, as this showcases one’s ability to handle stress effectively. These are crucial traits that recruiters look for when assessing candidates during job interviews.
4. Creative thinking in job interviews: how to handle unusual requests
Candidates may encounter yet another surprise during job interviews, presented in the form of an eccentric request, such as jumping out of a window. This request aims to evaluate the candidate’s ability to think creatively and outside the box.
To navigate such a situation, one can climb up to the window and jump onto the office floor where the interview is taking place, as there were no instructions on where to land. Alternatively, the candidate can respond with a win-win counter-question, such as “What benefit would my jump bring to the company?”
Handling unconventional requests is an opportunity to showcase one’s creative problem-solving skills, and this quality is highly valued by recruiters in many industries.
5. Assessing candidate adaptability in job interviews: how to handle unusual interviewer behavior
Employers may utilize another interview technique by displaying unusual behavior, such as ignoring the candidate and staring intently at the computer screen or suddenly leaving during the interview to take a phone call, leaving the applicant alone in the office.
This tactic serves to evaluate the candidate’s adaptability and assess how they handle unforeseen situations. One effective solution is to collaborate with the secretary to reschedule the interview for another day.
Adaptability is a valuable attribute that recruiters seek in candidates, as it indicates the ability to adjust to new situations, think on their feet, and navigate challenging circumstances effectively. Demonstrating flexibility and resourcefulness during job interviews can enhance one’s chances of securing the position.
6. Post-interview evaluation: meeting potential co-workers
It is common for employers to invite applicants to meet with potential co-workers in a non-work environment or specific situation after the interview concludes. This is more than just a friendly gesture; it provides an opportunity for the employer to evaluate the candidate based on feedback from existing employees.
Meeting with potential co-workers is an essential step in the hiring process as it allows recruiters to gain insight into how the candidate will fit into the company culture and interact with the team. A positive evaluation from co-workers can significantly enhance the candidate’s chances of receiving a job offer.
7. Cooperation test: responding to a simple request
Another assessment commonly used by employers is the cooperation test, which evaluates whether candidates possess helpful and cooperative qualities. During the interview, the employer may intentionally drop their pen to observe the candidate’s reaction. If the applicant instinctively bends down to pick up the pen, it indicates a willingness to cooperate, increasing the chances of receiving a job offer. Conversely, if the candidate allows the employer to pick up the pen on their own, it may negatively impact their chances of securing the position.
Cooperative individuals are highly valued in the workplace as they possess qualities such as teamwork, communication, and a positive attitude. Demonstrating these qualities during the hiring process can help candidates stand out to potential employers.
3 Stories of People Who Became Homeless During Hard Times
“That’s the problem, Amber!” he retorted. “I’m tired of all the responsibilities. I need time for myself. I’ve found someone who gets what I’m going through!”
That night, as he walked out, I just fell apart. Once Louis was gone, reality hit me hard. I struggled to find a job while taking care of Allen alone.
Two weeks later, our landlady evicted us as I couldn’t pay the rent, and Social Services took Allen.
That night, I was homeless and heartbroken. My baby, my child, was taken away from me.
I sold everything I had, including my phone, and that kept me going for a while. Then, the money ran out.
One evening, out in the cold, I remembered my dad’s warnings about Louis. “He’s not right for you,” Dad had said. I wish I’d listened. Desperate to reconnect with him, I decided to buy a phone to call him.I knew that if I borrowed a phone to call him, maybe he wouldn’t pick up the first time or even the second. But I’d have to keep trying….
I starved myself for a week to save enough to buy a second-hand phone. My tears didn’t stop when I dialed Dad’s number.
“Hello?” he asked.
“It’s… Amber, Dad,” I sobbed into the phone.
“Amber, sweetheart! Is that you? Oh God! How are things going?”
“I need your help, dad!”
“Is-Is everything okay?”
“Just come as soon as possible, Dad!” I said.
He arrived quickly. In a hotel room, I poured out my heart about the betrayal and my days on the streets. Dad comforted me.
The next day, Dad and I went to the orphanage to start the paperwork to bring Allen home. Once everything was finalized, Dad took Allen and me to New York.
He also hired a private detective to find out where Louis was. It turned out Louis had been cheating on me with his boss’s daughter.
When his boss found out the truth — that Louis was married and had abandoned his family — he fired him. Louis ended up living on the streets. It felt like justice was done.
Back home, with my dad and Allen, I felt stronger. Life had knocked me down but taught me resilience. And with Dad’s support, I knew we could face anything ahead.
Coming up next is Brandon’s story, a homeless man and father of 3 living in a tent. One day, he decided to help a stranger, ignoring his own needs, and his life was never the same again.
2. Brandon: I Gave My Last $2 to a Stranger at a Gas Station, the Next Day I Inherited His Company
Four months on the streets with my three kids taught me a lot about life’s harshness and the small acts of kindness that can keep hope alive.
We lived in a tent near a gas station, a makeshift home barely shielding us from the cold. It was tough, but we managed to find moments of joy, making the best of it.
One chilly morning, as I counted the few coins I had left, I decided to head into the gas station to buy a can of beans — our planned dinner for the evening.
Inside, I stumbled upon a scene that jolted my heart. An elderly man stood at the counter, confusion written all over his face.
“I’m sorry, young lady, what did you say about the water being funny?” he asked.
“I said you don’t have enough money, sir!” the cashier snapped.
“Yes, it is a sunny day!” he replied.
Suddenly, some young man in line grabbed the elderly man, yelling, “You need more cash!”
Watching this, my heart sank. The elderly man just wanted a bottle of water to take his pills, but his request for an affordable bottle was met with hostility. “If you can’t afford to pay, you’ll have to go!” the cashier shouted.
I couldn’t stand idly by. Stepping forward, I emptied my cup of change onto the counter. “Have a heart, lady,” I said, deciding to pay for the man’s water.
The cashier counted the money with distaste. “That’ll cover it,” she muttered. I left the can of beans and handed the water to the elderly man.
“Here you go, sir,” I spoke clearly, making sure he could read my lips.
“Why did you help me when you needed the money?” he asked me as we left the store, noticing my tent with kids nearby.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being homeless, it’s that the world works when people are kind to each other,” I explained.
“But what are your kids going to eat?” he questioned.
“There’s a chance I’ll find some scraps at the fast food joint across the street,” I assured him.
The next morning, two jeeps parked near our tent, and a man in a fancy suit stepped out.
“Mr. Grives’ last wish was for me to deliver this to you,” he said. There was a letter offering me the inheritance of his business.
“Is it a joke?” I asked in shock.
The man handed me legal documents. With a mix of apprehension and hope, I signed the papers. This could be the break my children and I needed, a chance to escape the streets.
We were driven to a huge mansion. “Can we put up a tent under that tree with pink flowers?” my youngest, Derrick, asked innocently.
“We’re going to live inside that house, silly! Right, Dad?” my daughter Kelly chimed in.
As I nodded, the reality of our new life began to sink in. Yet, the moment I opened the doors, something was wrong. The house was in disarray — someone had been there.
“We’ve examined the entire perimeter of the house and found no sign of forced entry, sir,” the officer reported after I called 911.
That evening, I got an anonymous call. In a robotic yet menacing tone, the voice told me I had 24 hours to decline all that Mr. Grives’ left me, leave the house, or else I would lose everything I love.
The mansion came with Mr. Grives’ loyal staff, and one of them warned me that this could be the doing of Mr. Grives’ eldest son, Christopher. I resolved to go to the cops in the morning.
But in the morning, my kids were vanished! Although the clever perpetrator had managed to hide his face from most of the CCTVs in and around the house, there was one he didn’t know about.
Mr. Grives’ staff watched in horror as they recognized the leader of three thugs drugging my children. It was Christopher.
From there on, the cops put everyone on the task of tracking Christopher, and didn’t rest until later that afternoon, when Christopher were spotted on the border of the state with my kids in the back of an old van.
Christopher was arrested, and my children were safe. But their fear had set in deep, and I had a choice to make: to heal and embrace the gift that kind soul left us, or to walk away, rebuilding from the start.
“Daddy, are we going to leave our home again?” Kelly’s question broke my heart.
I wrapped my arms around them. “We’re going to be okay. You want to know why?”
“IBecause the most valuable thing we have is right here, in my arms. So long as we stick together, we’ll always be rich in the most important way: love.”
While Brandon was blessed with children who understand the value of kindness and love, Mr. Greg wasn’t. Coming up next is his story.
3. Mr. Greg: My Teen Daughter Humiliated the Homeless, I Had to Teach Her a Lesson
I always thought I was doing right things for my daughter, Jane. I made sure she had everything she needed, but I missed teaching her something crucial — compassion for others. This hit me hard a few days ago when I lost my wallet.
After a fruitless search, I returned home to find Jane mocking a homeless man and his daughter at our doorstep. The shock set in when the man handed me my wallet, untouched. I was moved by that man’s gesture.
But Jane dismissively called them “trash,” and spoke to them with so much disgust…it broke my heart. I knew I had to fix this.
That evening, I invited the man, Mark, and his daughter for dinner. It was my chance to teach Jane about generosity.
“Dad, check the money! He probably stole it!” Jane said as I checked my wallet. Everything was there.
“All the money is here, sweetie. You’re mistaken,” I told her.
Seeing Mark’s and Lolita’s discomfort, I invited them to stay for dinner.
“Why don’t you guys join us?” I said. “It’s the least I can do to thank you.”
During dinner, Jane gave them paper plates instead of proper dishes.
“Why not use the nice dishes I got you for your birthday?” I suggested.
As we ate, I encouraged Mark to share his story, but Jane kept interrupting with rude comments. Eventually, I lost my patience.
“Shut your mouth, Jane!” I snapped. “You don’t know nothing. Misfortune could strike anyone.”
I then revealed a painful truth to Jane. “It’s my fault. I worked too much, especially after your mother passed. We were the same once,” I confessed. “Do you remember our ‘camping trips’? We were actually homeless.”
Jane was stunned. “How did we get back on our feet?”
“A kind man gave me a job. That changed our lives,” I said with a sigh.
Then, I looked at Mark. “And now, it’s my turn to pay it forward,” I told him.
Mark nodded. “All I did was what a decent human should do,” he said.
“I had no idea, Dad. I’m sorry,” Jane said after a pause.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s not too late to learn from this,” I told her.
When it was time for Mark and Lolita to go, I suggested, “Why don’t you both stay the night? We have plenty of room, and it’s getting late.”
Mark hesitated, then gratefully accepted. “Thank you, Greg. This means a lot.”
But I knew I wasn’t done helping them. Offering them a night’s shelter would not alleviate their problems. So I made a decision.
A little kindness costs nothing, guys, and I was ready to make sure that little Lolita and her dad had a good life.
The next day, I offered Mark a job as a driver and arranged a temporary home for them. “And I’ll help you until you’re back on your feet,” I promised.
“Oh, Really?” Mark gasped. “Nobody is this kind nowadays! I won’t let you down, sir,” Mark told me in tears. “Thank you so much!”
The smile on Lolita’s face that day made me realize I’d done the right thing. As for Jane…my Janie changed. She became a better person, and I’m so glad for that.
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