Love this Chick fil-A interview technique

[nugov2]

But it is literally NOT my job. I don't' even have a job. When it is my job I will be a good, faithful employee that picks up random pieces of paper and trash from the floor of the place of my employment. Until then, no it's not my job.

There are people who do things because they have to and those that do things because they want to. The second group IME make better coworkers and employees. Not hands down all the time, but usually. People who don't want to go above and beyond in everyday life aren't likely to when they're getting paid either again IME.

Do you put a random cart in the parking lot away, pick up a knocked over item laying in the grocery store aisle or put clothes back on a hanger at a store that fell. There are those that do most of the time and those that don't most of the time. I actually teach my kids to do these things while we're out in the hopes it is a trait that stays with them. I think little gestures like this are important, IMO.

 

[sam_gordon]

But it is literally NOT my job. I don't' even have a job. When it is my job I will be a good, faithful employee that picks up random pieces of paper and trash from the floor of the place of my employment. Until then, no it's not my job.

How does the manager know that? Simply because you say so? And how does that come up in an interview? If he asks you whether you'd pick up trash, do you really think a job applicant is going to say "no"?

 

[wvjules]

I think people are putting too much emphasis on this little trash test. Just because someone doesn't pick up trash on the floor of a CFA on their way to an interview doesn't mean 1) They will be an unmotivated employee 2) they will make bad coworkers 3) they don't go above and beyond at other times. Judging a candidate for not picking up a piece of trash is, IMO, a poor way to judge someone.

I would not have picked up the trash at the interview. I am a motivated employee and am a darned good co-worker. I do move buggies that are in the aisles, put a stray one I pass in the cart corral, pick up clothes that fell off of a hangar, etc., but I would not have picked up a piece of trash right before my interview at a CFA.

 

[wvjules]

How does the manager know that? Simply because you say so? And how does that come up in an interview? If he asks you whether you'd pick up trash, do you really think a job applicant is going to say "no"?

How do managers that don't do this little trash test know that?

 

[sam_gordon]

I think people are putting too much emphasis on this little trash test. Just because someone doesn't pick up trash on the floor of a CFA on their way to an interview doesn't mean 1) They will be an unmotivated employee 2) they will make bad coworkers 3) they don't go above and beyond at other times. Judging a candidate for not picking up a piece of trash is, IMO, a poor way to judge someone.

I think you have the bolded dead on. No one has ever said that anyone who doesn't pick up the trash wouldn't get hired nor that anyone who picks up the trash will get hired. But if you have two equal candidates, the "trash test" might be a way to differentiate between them. Does that mean the company might be missing out on a good employee? Sure. But maybe the one they hired, who did pick up the trash, is a better employee.

How do managers that don't do this little trash test know that?

They don't. And that's part of the problem. You're (hiring manager) trying to find the "best fit" for the job. Candidates don't come with neon signs above their head saying "hire this one" or "stay away". So the more you can find out about a potential candidate, the better.

I'm curious, have you ever been responsible for hiring someone? I just recently (almost four months go) got promoted into a position that does so. I've had to hire three people in that time. It's not as easy as it sounds.

 

[GaryDis]

Okay, I've held off for a while, but I've just GOT to ask you - and this is obviously hypothetical - put yourself in that interviewee's place; what would you say to that Chick-fil-A manager when he asked you about the trash like it says in the article?

I'm surprised that you allowed it to stay there so long, but rest assured that if you hire me, I'll make sure the trash gets picked up promptly.

 

[GaryDis]

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.

The only Chik-Fil-As near me that I know about are in mall food courts. So it's difficult to see what the managers are doing, and the tidiness of the eating area doesn't relate to the individual food franchises.

They're also have no vegetarian or fish entrees. So politics aside, I still would never eat there.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I'm surprised that you allowed it to stay there so long, but rest assured that if you hire me, I'll make sure the trash gets picked up promptly.

Now, I'm going to be really honest with you.

If I was the manager asking the question and that was the answer given to me, I would consider it a pretty nervy response and it would really make me think twice about hiring you. Of course, there might be some people out there who would love that response; I'm just not one of them.

 

[CPanther95]

I would hire Gary if he gave that response. That's the attitude of a manager, and I want all employees to have manager potential.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Okay, I've held off for a while, but I've just GOT to ask you - and this is obviously hypothetical - put yourself in that interviewee's place; what would you say to that Chick-fil-A manager when he asked you about the trash like it says in the article?

My response: "Well, if you give me the opportunity to work for your Team, I will be happy to pick up trash (insert hiring managers name here)!" Followed by a warm smile that showed sincerity.

Where I work, when we have an open position it generates anywhere from 1500-2000 resumes. I sit through countless interviews at various times throughout the year. I don't believe in playing mind games with my potential job candidates. My job is to make them feel comfortable in the interview process to allow them to be themselves, and that is where you can really find out who is a qualified candidate or not.

 

[LiveYourLife]

But if you have two equal candidates, the "trash test" might be a way to differentiate between them. Does that mean the company might be missing out on a good employee? Sure. But maybe the one they hired, who did pick up the trash, is a better employee.

Or, you can just call your top two candidates back in for a 2nd interview.

 

[PollyannaMom]

But it is literally NOT my job. I don't' even have a job. When it is my job I will be a good, faithful employee that picks up random pieces of paper and trash from the floor of the place of my employment. Until then, no it's not my job.

So what happens after you get hired, when it's "not your job" to fill the milkshake machine? Say it's Susie's job, but Susie is running late today. Do you fill the milkshake machine, or wait for Susie to do it because it's "not your job".

In the manager's mind, the same people who will pick up the trash will fill the milkshake machine.

 

[wvjules]

Not my job = not an employee. When I'm an employee then yea, doing what comes along with it is my job, trash, milkshake machine, making sandwiches, cashier, etc....

 

[GaryDis]

Now, I'm going to be really honest with you.

If I was the manager asking the question and that was the answer given to me, I would consider it a pretty nervy response and it would really make me think twice about hiring you. Of course, there might be some people out there who would love that response; I'm just not one of them.

I've never had a manager who didn't appreciate and respect honest and blunt feedback. But I've never worked in fast food.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I've never had a manager who didn't appreciate and respect honest and blunt feedback. But I've never worked in fast food.

See, and fast food was my first job at 16. I did that for 5 years before moving on to something different. In my experience, there were TONS of applicants so we were taught different ways to 'weed people out' during group interviews and how to hire the 'best' ones. It's served me pretty well over the years, but I will say that it hasn't 100% spot-on every time.

I have zero issue with honest and blunt, but to me, respect is more important in that first interview. Again, it's just different strokes and you never know who you're going to get.

 

[Allons-y!]

It seems that some people are taking this idea way too personally. So what if a manager chooses to give some priority to people who stop to pick up some trash? That's their prerogative. As long as they aren't discriminating against protected classes, then they can use what criteria they deem important. They want the person who does a job without it actually being their job. If that's not you, that doesn't make you a bad person or even a bad employee. But you're not the kind of person they want. Why does that seem to matter so much to some posters?

 

[luvsJack]

My response: "Well, if you give me the opportunity to work for your Team, I will be happy to pick up trash (insert hiring managers name here)!" Followed by a warm smile that showed sincerity.

Where I work, when we have an open position it generates anywhere from 1500-2000 resumes. I sit through countless interviews at various times throughout the year. I don't believe in playing mind games with my potential job candidates. My job is to make them feel comfortable in the interview process to allow them to be themselves, and that is where you can really find out who is a qualified candidate or not.

I don't know what type of business you work in and your method may work wonderfully for you but it doesn't for all types of positions.

I hired lots of people in child care. Just as an example, I was hiring for a caregiver for 2 year olds and had an experienced woman with wonderful refrences, interviewed well seemed like a perfect match. Her first day on the job she brought me a child who was being potty trained and had had an accident. She announced loudly "I don't change messy pants!" Seriously?

I fired her and hired the next one on the list that had great references but didn't interview well and not as much experience but DID interact with a couple of kids who came in while we were talking. She was wonderful and stayed with me for years.

Sending kids into the room during every interview would have probably helped tremendously in the process. Same as the paper on the floor helps this manager.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I don't know what type of business you work in and your method may work wonderfully for you but it doesn't for all types of positions.

I hired lots of people in child care. Just as an example, I was hiring for a caregiver for 2 year olds and had an experienced woman with wonderful refrences, interviewed well seemed like a perfect match. Her first day on the job she brought me a child who was being potty trained and had had an accident. She announced loudly "I don't change messy pants!" Seriously?

I fired her and hired the next one on the list that had great references but didn't interview well and not as much experience but DID interact with a couple of kids who came in while we were talking. She was wonderful and stayed with me for years.

Sending kids into the room during every interview would have probably helped tremendously in the process. Same as the paper on the floor helps this manager.

Gosh, I lived this story myself back in the day! She doesn't change messy pants and wants to be a two's teacher? Ummm.....

I used to take my interviewees on a tour of the entire center as part of their interview and I'd pay close attention to how they handled kids coming up to them with messy hands or snotty noses. The ones who grabbed a tissue and cleaned their nose then washed their hands afterwards were the ones who made a lasting impression.

 

[sam_gordon]

Or, you can just call your top two candidates back in for a 2nd interview.

Works great if you have a bunch of folks applying and they're all in your town. For one job, we interviewed nine people over a three month time frame. Almost half of them were from out of town, and a third were from out of state.

 

[gwynne]

Works great if you have a bunch of folks applying and they're all in your town. For one job, we interviewed nine people over a three month time frame. Almost half of them were from out of town, and a third were from out of state.

Not sure what the issue is with this. Lots of businesses (including the federal government) do second round/final interviews remotely.