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Ok, so here is an idea suggested by a chef looking for line cooks in a VERY busy hotel kitchen, where hustle and focus are necessary, and I think we may start incorporating this into our interview process as well... we haven't yet, but I found it very intriguing...
Meet them in a place at some distance from where you're going to actually be interviewing them. Greet them and then tell them that we're now going to be heading to the office, or where ever to conduct the actual interview. Then proceed to walk as fast as you can before running to your office. When you get to the door, turn around and see how far behind they are. If they can't reasonably keep up, or move quickly, they're out.
We're also thinking about adding problem solving situations (as well as questions of course) to the process... For instance.. In the middle of the interview, ask them to retrieve a 12oz pitcher from the bar. Start a timer, or look at your watch and see how long it takes them to communicate and get the item. If they can't get it, they're out... you can also then observe how they work with others and manage challenges.
We haven't implemented any of this yet, they're just ideas... Id be interested to know what you all think about this... it's not really coffee-geek focused, but it we've had an interesting time with very slow coffee-geeks.
Another thing I always like to do is ask them if they would like a drink at the beginning of the interview. If they say no, they better have a good reason. If they say yes I wait a few seconds to see if they say what they would like... if it's not a serious espresso drink, I order them a cappuccino anyway along with the drink they asked for the barista makes the capps first and serves it to us, then the other drink. Obviously I stand behind the quality and the coffee focus of all of our beverages, and we are all on our own coffee journey... but I watch closely the cappuccino and if they drink it, and what they have to say about it.
Not everyone is prepared to drink and describe their taste and experiences of drinking coffee when they come in for the interview, but I can get some response of where they are on their coffee journey and whether or not they would be a good fit.
One other thing about the aforementioned interview "technique" of running off down the street away from the interviewee... depending upon the size of the company, it would most likely be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Just saying...
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