Sip Or Skip : Meet The Boss Who Swears By The Coffee Cup Test In Interviews!

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Can a coffee cup determine your success at an interview? Well, we've all been there; nervously sitting in a job interview, knowing that our future hangs in the balance. Some interviews are tough, while others might feel surprisingly straightforward. Here an Australian managing director has taken a quirky approach to hiring. He will only hire candidates who pass what he calls the Coffee Cup Test. Intrigued? Read on to discover more about this unconventional method.

Photo Credit: Image is AI-generated

What Is The Coffee Cup Test?

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, right? Between making a great first impression and preparing for that all important question at the end, the pressure is on. But some companies take it a step further with unconventional tactics designed to catch applicants off guard.

One such tactic comes from Trent Innes, former managing director of accounting platform Xeno and current chief growth officer at SiteMinder. On the podcast The Ventures, Innes shared his intriguing approach. During interviews, he invites candidates for a walk to the kitchen, where they inevitably end up with a drink. Once back in the interview room, he subtly observes if they take the empty cup back to the kitchen afterwards.

If they don't, it's a sign that they might not be the right fit for the company. Innes emphasises that while skills and experience can be developed, the right attitude is crucial, illustrated by the concept of "wash your coffee cup."

Small Gestures Matter

"You can develop skills, you can gain knowledge and experience, but it really does come down to attitude," emphasised Trent Innes. By observing whether an interviewee willingly offers to return their coffee cup, Innes believes he gains insight into an individual's sense of ownership, a trait he views as crucial for fostering a culture of responsibility in his company.

He elaborated on the importance of fitting into the "company culture" by stating, "If you come into the office one day inside Xero, you'll see the kitchens are almost always clean and sparkling, and it's very much off that concept of washing your coffee cup." Pointing out that this simple act of returning a cup and washing it encapsulates the idea of being considerate and taking responsibility for the shared workspace.

Innes reinforced that it's about "making sure that they're actually going to fit into the culture inside Xero, and really take on everything that they should be doing." Ultimately, these small gestures can reveal a lot about a candidate's attitude and potential for contributing positively to the workplace environment.

Photo Credit: Image is AI-generated

In summary, the coffee cup test offers a quirky yet telling perspective on what hiring managers look for beyond the resume. For Trent Innes, this seemingly trivial act is all about assessing a candidate's attitude and fit within the company culture. It reminds us that small gestures can have a big impact in the workplace. So, next time you're in an interview, remember that sometimes the smallest gestures can say the most about who you are.