Watch out for the ‘salt and pepper test' when lunching with recruiters
By seeing whether a candidate will taste their dish before seasoning it, a recruiter can apparently access his or her ability to make decisions. (Envato Elements pic)
PARIS : Some recruiters can be rather imaginative when it comes to testing the emotional intelligence of job applicants. A few years ago, a former Australian CEO revealed his method for deciding between two equally qualified candidates.
Dubbed the 'coffee cup test', the technique involved serving a cup of coffee at the start of a job interview, then observing the person's actions at the end. Will they ask where they can put their dirty cup, or forget about it altogether and leave it where it is?
The first scenario works in the candidate's favour than the second: apparently, showing willingness to clear your mug demonstrates initiative and team spirit, as well as a strong ability to adapt quickly to the company culture.
Recently, another similar-minded recruitment test has been making the rounds on social networks. Initially thought to be an urban myth, it has nevertheless been reported by managers and employers claiming to put it into practice, notably in the United States.
This time, the test involves salt and pepper shakers: the idea is to analyse whether the candidate will taste their dish before seasoning it. In doing so, the recruiter assesses the candidate's ability to make decisions based on how they behave.
In other words, this 'test' allows recruiters to determine whether the candidate is the type to observe and think before acting, or whether they will rush into action impulsively, following their instincts or assumptions without analysing the situation beforehand.
Hiring managers are increasingly placing priority on candidates' soft skills such as professionalism, emotional intelligence, and team spirit. (Envato Elements pic)
While these tests – which have not been approved by any kind of HR certification – may seem far-fetched and relatively rare in practice, they nonetheless reflect a very real trend in corporate culture in line with what is commonly known as 'soft skills'.
These qualities include professionalism, emotional intelligence and team spirit, and are increasingly valued by recruiters and managers alike.
A recent LinkedIn survey showed that employees who know how to demonstrate soft skills get promoted more quickly than their colleagues who focus more on their hard skills, i.e. the technical and practical abilities they require to fulfill tasks associated with their position.
But not all soft skills are equal – the LinkedIn study adds that organisational skills, teamwork, problem-solving and leadership are the most effective aptitudes for getting promoted more quickly.
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