Love this Chick fil-A interview technique

[sam_gordon]

Well...

You see some trash on the floor. You decide you'll get cool points for picking up the trash. You pick up the trash and pop it in the trash can. Manager is waiting to take you back for an interview. You tell the manager, "Wait on a sec, I just picked up some trash from your store, I need to wash my hands. Where is the washroom?"

A couple of possible reactions:
Manager is happy to wait, she likes waiting for job candidates that pick up trash and know to wash their hands after.
Manager is kind of annoyed, she doesn't have a lot of time and you are wasting hers with the whole trash thing. She also didn't like the way you kind of implied her Chick-Fil-A store is dirty.

It could go either way.

Well, I would show up for an interview 10-15 minutes early to begin with. So if I see trash on my way in and pick it up, taking time to wash my hands isn't a big deal. If it's something like a straw wrapper or napkin, I could also use my left hand, leaving my right hand "clean" for the handshake.

I think the "test" is more to see who is willing to go "above and beyond" and has initiative to do something that needs done on their own. Now, I'm guessing this is not the definitive issue (if you don't pick up the trash, you won't be hired), but if you have two candidates that are equal and one had picked up the trash and other didn't, I can see it factoring in.

 

[gwynne]

My guess is it isn't a used kleenex and more like a receipt. I would pick up that and toss it and go to an interview. It isn't like you are eating and have to wash your hands immediately. I am a germ phob and I carry hand sanitizer so I'd use that, but I imagine a teen who is the key demographic of this job wouldn't care. I think it is just one part of the interview and I think it can show that someone has a good character trait, but also doesn't mean everyone who doesn't isn't a good employee either. Like a pp poster stated it may give you a couple extra points.

I suppose a lot depends on how big a deal clean hands are to the restaurant manager.
The teen isn't likely to handle food that day. Some managers might find it easier to give the teen a pass and then teach about why hand washing is so important for food service workers during training.

 

[jrmasm]

Dumb

 

[DawnM]

I suppose a lot depends on how big a deal clean hands are to the restaurant manager.
The teen isn't likely to handle food that day. Some managers might find it easier to give the teen a pass and then teach about why hand washing is so important for food service workers during training.

So then basically this is a no-win situation. If you pick it up, you get told you need sanitation training. If you don't pick it up, you are told you need to clean up trash.

 

[nugov2]

I suppose a lot depends on how big a deal clean hands are to the restaurant manager.
The teen isn't likely to handle food that day. Some managers might find it easier to give the teen a pass and then teach about why hand washing is so important for food service workers during training.

It is standard protocol to wash your hands before beginning a shift in a restaurant so it would be part of the training if/when they get the job. This person isn't starting a shift and it is not standard protocol to wash your hands before an interview so I think the interviewee would be fine and not judged for not washing their hands after picking up a piece of paper(or maybe an unused ketchup packet). I think people are scrutinizing this part of the interview too much. As I stated before I doubt it is a used kleenex or something else that is super germy.

 

[Juliet25]

Put me in the "it's stupid" category. It doesn't accurately measure character. Isn't character how you behave when no one's watching?

Looking back to my most recent job interview six months ago, I would not have been paying enough attention to my surroundings to notice out-of-place trash. I was concerned with making sure I was on time, looking neat, and that I didn't lock my keys in the car.

I think people do these things to convince themselves they're clever. One woman was telling me the other day that she purposely puts awkward pauses into an interview to see how people deal with them. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the job. I can't help but think people who play these tricks are missing out on people who can be a real asset to the company even though they didn't pass the "test". But that would require one to engage in getting to know a person and doing due diligence in vetting them through a give and take interview and reference check. But who wants to do that when one can use a silly trick and think themselves superior?

 

[threeboysmom]

Pick up the trash, rub your hand a little on the floor while doing so, & promptly shake the interviewer's hand.

Actually, I think it's a great idea. It will reveal someone who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Well, I would show up for an interview 10-15 minutes early to begin with. So if I see trash on my way in and pick it up, taking time to wash my hands isn't a big deal. If it's something like a straw wrapper or napkin, I could also use my left hand, leaving my right hand "clean" for the handshake.

I think the "test" is more to see who is willing to go "above and beyond" and has initiative to do something that needs done on their own. Now, I'm guessing this is not the definitive issue (if you don't pick up the trash, you won't be hired), but if you have two candidates that are equal and one had picked up the trash and other didn't, I can see it factoring in.

I agree! I was always taught that if you're not AT LEAST 5-minutes early, you're late!

I worked as a Center Director of a National Childcare organization for many years and during interviews, I'd always ask the question, "Why do you want to work here?" I'd say, 9 times out of 10, folks would respond, "...because I love kids!" Well, that's sadly not enough of a reason for me to hire you. Employers want passionate people that will work HARD, not just someone simply looking for a paycheck.

If you've ever been in a position where you made hiring decisions, you know it can be REALLY difficult to find someone who has things like integrity, compassion - a general desire to go above and beyond. I don't think doing clever things in an interview (like the piece on Chick-fil-A mentions) to find out more information about interviewees is sneaky at all. I was not looking to hire the "that's not my job" type. There isn't a way to find that character trait out very easily. There are plenty of folks around who tote themselves as the 'best person for the job' during their interview and on their first day, you end up saying to yourself, "What was I thinking?!" I made a practice of hiring people who wanted my job because I knew those people would work hard! People who wanted my job would grab a clean napkin and pick up the piece of trash using it...no sanitation issue there. Simple and easy - no thought required.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It seems like very few people read the article.

"If the candidate kicks the trash away or ignores it, Moss confronts them about the decision to get a better sense of the situation.

"You can teach anyone to put chicken on a sandwich, but you can't teach them to care about it," Moss says."

It isn't like he tells people to go away if they don't pick up the trash. He talks to them about it.

 

[threeboysmom]

Put me in the "it's stupid" category. It doesn't accurately measure character. Isn't character how you behave when no one's watching?

Exactly! And that's why this test is such a good idea IMO. The teen doesn't know at that point that they are being watched. Will they pick up the trash or just walk around it?

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Holy overthinking it, Batman.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Must be nice to be able to be so picky. I have a hard time getting a living breathing person to show up on time for their interview.

 

[GaryDis]

I'm sorry, Mr. Hiring Manager, but I don't think I want to work for a boss who just sits there staring at paperwork when there's an obvious piece of trash on the floor that you could have picked up before we even started the interview. It tells me that you don't care very much about the appearance of your store, or that you don't believe in teamwork and that picking up trash is beneath you. And that's not the sort of store I want to eat in, let alone work for.

 

[Jennasis]

Its fine by me. The caliber of employee i have found at Chik Fil A and the cleanliness of there restaurants puts all other fast food places to shame.

 

[smadath]

If I were an employee, I'd have access to gloves. I don't want to touch things on a floor that may not have been cleaned for awhile with bare hands. Especially right before shaking someone's hand.

I usher at a local theater and if they have two shows back to back (typical for big name comedians who book shows 2/2.5 hrs apart). It seats about 2400, so they ask the ushers to help clean in between the shows as the custodial staff wouldn't have the time. If they give me gloves and trash bags, I have no problem with it. Once they didn't bring gloves and no, many of us were not comfortable with picking up beverage and food containers left behind bare handed. They went and got us gloves.

Exactly. I'm a germophobe on behalf of myself, and others. There's no way I'm picking up trash from the floor, then shaking someone else's hand. Give me some gloves, then no problem! Otherwise, I think not.

If they're going to use a 'test' like this, I think they should ask why you didn't pick it up during the interview. 'I Didn't Notice It Was There' is a much different answer than 'I Didn't Want To Spread Whatever Germs Were On The Floor To You.'

 

[Jennasis]

Exactly. I'm a germophobe on behalf of myself, and others. There's no way I'm picking up trash from the floor, then shaking someone else's hand. Give me some gloves, then no problem! Otherwise, I think not.

If they're going to use a 'test' like this, I think they should ask why you didn't pick it up during the interview. 'I Didn't Notice It Was There' is a much different answer than 'I Didn't Want To Spread Whatever Germs Were On The Floor To You.'

The interviewer DOES ask.

 

[Wendy31]

I'm sorry, Mr. Hiring Manager, but I don't think I want to work for a boss who just sits there staring at paperwork when there's an obvious piece of trash on the floor that you could have picked up before we even started the interview. It tells me that you don't care very much about the appearance of your store, or that you don't believe in teamwork and that picking up trash is beneath you. And that's not the sort of store I want to eat in, let alone work for.

Hmm... every single Chik-Fil-A I've ever been in, the manager on duty is usually right there on the floor, very visible, & always doing all sorts of things & whatever's necessary to pick up the slack.

Once I was there to pick up a special order for a party, & the manager helped the cashier get my order together. And, yes, I've also seen the manager on duty in the front of the restaurant, picking up trash & helping customers w/ their trays at the garbage cans. At a Chik-Fil-A in south Georgia, the manager on duty was filling the drinks.

I'm sure the trash on the floor isn't a spilled shake or something messy. It's probably a random straw paper or something similar. Like another person mentioned, *most* kids aren't thinking about germs. I'm a germaphobe myself, so I hope I've trained my kids to at least be a little germ-conscious though. LOL! DH & I do routinely tell our kids, "Leave something better than you found it."

I still remember the day over 10 years ago when we were out w/ a bunch of teenagers on a youth group trip to a historical fort. All the kids were walking in front of DH & me. I watched as one guy bent down to pick up an old soft drink can off the ground. The can wasn't from our group, so "technically" not our responsibility. But this teenager didn't think trash belonged on the grounds of the fort, so he picked it up & threw it away at the first garbage can we came to. Maybe the other kids didn't notice it, but some did walk over & around it. But that one kid, over 10 years later, still sticks out in my mind.

Again, the "trash test" is just a small way to tell which potential employees might take initiative & don't have a "I'm too good to pick up trash because it's not my job" attitude. 2 applicants equal in everything else, the employer could choose to hire the person who picked up the trash.

 

[sam_gordon]

Exactly. I'm a germophobe on behalf of myself, and others. There's no way I'm picking up trash from the floor, then shaking someone else's hand. Give me some gloves, then no problem! Otherwise, I think not.

If they're going to use a 'test' like this, I think they should ask why you didn't pick it up during the interview. 'I Didn't Notice It Was There' is a much different answer than 'I Didn't Want To Spread Whatever Germs Were On The Floor To You.'

From the article...

"If the candidate kicks the trash away or ignores it, Moss confronts them about the decision to get a better sense of the situation."

 

[smadath]

The interviewer DOES ask.

Yes, I noticed that after I posted my reply.

And, even though I still think this is a silly test, it's good that they give an opportunity to respond!

 

[gemini2727]

Hmm... every single Chik-Fil-A I've ever been in, the manager on duty is usually right there on the floor, very visible, & always doing all sorts of things & whatever's necessary to pick up the slack.

Once I was there to pick up a special order for a party, & the manager helped the cashier get my order together. And, yes, I've also seen the manager on duty in the front of the restaurant, picking up trash & helping customers w/ their trays at the garbage cans. At a Chik-Fil-A in south Georgia, the manager on duty was filling the drinks.

I'm sure the trash on the floor isn't a spilled shake or something messy. It's probably a random straw paper or something similar. Like another person mentioned, *most* kids aren't thinking about germs. I'm a germaphobe myself, so I hope I've trained my kids to at least be a little germ-conscious though. LOL! DH & I do routinely tell our kids, "Leave something better than you found it."

I still remember the day over 10 years ago when we were out w/ a bunch of teenagers on a youth group trip to a historical fort. All the kids were walking in front of DH & me. I watched as one guy bent down to pick up an old soft drink can off the ground. The can wasn't from our group, so "technically" not our responsibility. But this teenager didn't think trash belonged on the grounds of the fort, so he picked it up & threw it away at the first garbage can we came to. Maybe the other kids didn't notice it, but some did walk over & around it. But that one kid, over 10 years later, still sticks out in my mind.

Again, the "trash test" is just a small way to tell which potential employees might take initiative & don't have a "I'm too good to pick up trash because it's not my job" attitude. 2 applicants equal in everything else, the employer could choose to hire the person who picked up the trash.

I promise you that if I'm entering a location for a job interview, I'm not thinking about a straw paper on the ground, even if I see it there. It's not laziness, or being above picking up trash, but I would definitely have other things on my mind at that time. That is a high stress situation, and I wouldn't expect an interviewee to behave the same as if they were already working at the place. It really isn't a fair test, IMO.