Love this Chick fil-A interview technique

[LiveYourLife]

I'm bummed now that we don't have one of these around here so I can try the place.

You can have all of ours, and I will even throw in Jimmy John's too

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

There is a difference between being polite and speaking positively about the company and sharing your reasons for wanting the job.

 

[kathyk2]

I do see picking up the trash as a requirement since the manager is aware whether the trash gets picked up or not. He is making hiring decisions based on conduct during the interview.

 

[L&Lfan]

You can have all of ours, and I will even throw in Jimmy John's too

I'm not familiar with Jimmy John's but we have one Chick fil A here in Atlantic County, NJ and it's always MOBBED! Very popular here!
What kind of place is Jimmy John's?

 

[Wendy31]

Jimmy John's is a sandwich place, &, while the food is okay, the service (at least at the one closest to us) is horrid.

 

[L&Lfan]

Thank you, Wendy! I live in NJ and I've never heard of them.

 

[Wendy31]

Thank you, Wendy! I live in NJ and I've never heard of them.

I've never had the opportunity to visit New Jersey, but, from what I've heard about all the great delis & sandwiches y'all have in New Jersey, you're not missing anything at all by not having a Jimmy John's!

 

[CPanther95]

I'll gladly hand over all of our Jimmy John's.

But don't touch our Which Wich.

 

[wvjules]

I love which wich.

I have only eaten at JJ once and wasn't impressed. Now I won't eat there because he's a big game trophy hunter.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Now I won't eat there because he's a big game trophy hunter.

 

[Aliceacc]

Keep in mind, too, that Chick Fil-A is hiring teens. Sixteen year old kids applying for their first job ever.

I think it's a bit much to expect of a teenager.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Keep in mind, too, that Chick Fil-A is hiring teens. Sixteen year old kids applying for their first job ever.

I think it's a bit much to expect of a teenager.

My teenager laughed! He said he can definitely handle picking up a straw wrapper or a receipt. He does more than that here at home without even thinking about it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Why would I be friendly with others prior to a group interview? We're all there to compete for a position. If I talk to them about why *I* want the job, I'd be afraid of them stealing my answer.

To get the job I have now, there's a panel interview with as many supervisors as are available. You're asked questions about scenarios you may or may not know the "correct" answer to, but it's to test your ability to problem solve and think on your feet. But all the questions are related to the job and based off real examples of things people deal with. You can train someone as to the right answer. You can't train them to have the self-confidence to go forward when on their own in unfamiliar territory.

I guess I don't really see what qualities you're trying to glean from this. Stranger friendliness? If I'm going into a group interview, I'm not rude, but I'm surely not sharing my reasons for wanting to work somewhere with my competition. Especially since I would have done my homework and not everybody does.

Even if I'm not there for a group interview, before an interview I'm in my own head getting in the zone. I'm making sure my resumes are in order, going over my questions one last time in my head. Reviewing names/titles of people I'm meeting etc. My focus absolutely would not be on chit chat beyond maybe introducing myself (if it seemed appropriate).

I wouldn't be grooming myself (unless I stepped into the restroom) as I think that's tacky, but I most certainly wouldn't be playing to the waiting room. Even if I knew somebody was watching, I doubt I would do much interacting.

Now if you told the candidates to spend x amount of time before the interview speaking about xyz then that would be a little different.

Wow, it sounds like you guys are WAY overthinking this. What if the job requires "friendly, outgoing people"? Seeing how folks act around a group of strangers could give a hiring manager some information. No one said you need to give away your secrets. But a quick introduction, maybe talk about the weather, or where you're from isn't going to influence their answers.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I guess I don't really see what qualities you're trying to glean from this. Stranger friendliness? If I'm going into a group interview, I'm not rude, but I'm surely not sharing my reasons for wanting to work somewhere with my competition. Especially since I would have done my homework and not everybody does.

Even if I'm not there for a group interview, before an interview I'm in my own head getting in the zone. I'm making sure my resumes are in order, going over my questions one last time in my head. Reviewing names/titles of people I'm meeting etc. My focus absolutely would not be on chit chat beyond maybe introducing myself (if it seemed appropriate).

I wouldn't be grooming myself (unless I stepped into the restroom) as I think that's tacky, but I most certainly wouldn't be playing to the waiting room. Even if I knew somebody was watching, I doubt I would do much interacting.

Whoa -
No one is asking you to share trade secrets. But we want to know how people interact and their general attitude when they are not aware they are being watched.
Attitude is everything - and we have hired less qualified candidates because of their attitude. Just because someone CAN do the job doesn't mean they should!

Someone who sits in a room with people and does not interact is probably someone we would not have hired to work with the public.

 

[gwynne]

Whoa -
No one is asking you to share trade secrets. But we want to know how people interact and their general attitude when they are not aware they are being watched.
Attitude is everything - and we have hired less qualified candidates because of their attitude. Just because someone CAN do the job doesn't mean they should!

Someone who sits in a room with people and does not interact is probably someone we would not have hired to work with the public.

Fair enough. But it's not an accurate way to judge who will become a valuable team member.
I find people who like to dazzle but don't deliver annoying both as a customer and fellow employee. There is always more to it than a quick snapshot in time.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Fair enough. But it's not an accurate way to judge who will become a valuable team member.
I find people who like to dazzle but don't deliver annoying both as a customer and fellow employee. There is always more to it than a quick snapshot in time.

Agreed - and after a group interview, there are one on one interviews - so a candidate has an opportunity to shine.
But it is interesting to ask a question and see how the group answers - does someone ignore what another is saying, roll their eyes at an answer, smile encouragingly if someone acts nervous, etc.

 

[wvjules]

I'm glad all of my interviews have been standard, straight-forward interviews. Talk to me, interact with me, look at my experience/education, etc., no need to play games with me.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Whoa -
No one is asking you to share trade secrets. But we want to know how people interact and their general attitude when they are not aware they are being watched.
Attitude is everything - and we have hired less qualified candidates because of their attitude. Just because someone CAN do the job doesn't mean they should!

Someone who sits in a room with people and does not interact is probably someone we would not have hired to work with the public.

Fair enough, I guess this makes sense if you're looking for somebody who is always on.

I still think it's one of those "clever" techniques that may rule out some very good people. Being rude or having a specifically bad attitude is one thing, but there are many people who can be on for their job, but not necessarily always play to a room.

I'm obviously not the type of candidate you would want because I can't think of a situation where I would really interact with people in a waiting room situation. I don't always find interacting with a room full of people the most appropriate thing to do.

But if my job required public or customer interactions (and it does) you'd think I love to engage people and am a talk to anybody type.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Keep in mind, too, that Chick Fil-A is hiring teens. Sixteen year old kids applying for their first job ever.

I think it's a bit much to expect of a teenager.

16 year olds are quite capable of throwing out trash. If they can't handle picking up a piece of trash, then they probably shouldn't be working.

 

[gwynne]

16 year olds are quite capable of throwing out trash. If they can't handle picking up a piece of trash, then they probably shouldn't be working.

I think most 16 yo's are able to pick up trash. Whether a manager should stage a situation and expect the best teenage job candidates will do trash duty is another thing.
I believe managers should model good workplace behavior, especially with teens new to the workplace. Games aren't part of that, but JMO.