To the already usual nervousness during a job interview, you can add that, suddenly, the interviewer offers you a glass of water. Sounds simple, right? This can be interpreted as a courtesy gesture to relieve the dry mouth typical of these moments, but This is actually a behavioral test. which can be vital for accessing work or not.
Several recruiters are starting to apply it, even if This is actually a very old test.. So much so that it’s been a few decades since Steve Jobs himself started putting it into practice. And even if in the case of the Apple co-founder it was with a beer, the objective is the same.
What is the “glass of water test”?
Going back to the days of Steve Jobs, when he was CEO of Apple, he had many responsibilities beyond recruiting staff. However, from time to time he liked to put himself in this role and especially when it came to recruiting a senior official who would be close to him. And that's how it is He started inviting them for a beer. outside the Apple offices.
Steve Jobs took advantage of this informal moment to assess the interviewee's behavior in a comfort zone. Chatting in a bar, even if it involves work, is still less demanding than doing it in an office. And even more so if it's in an office where Steve Jobs himself sits.
However, far from wanting to promote a relaxed environment, which Jobs also wanted analyze the behavior and possible “failures” of the person interviewed. The tension inherent in an interview may lead to more studied answers in the office, but not in a bar drinking a beer, where the interviewee tends to relax and release their own storyline.
Well, the glass of water test is different in the way it is conducted, although the same in its objectives. In this case, everything happens in the office itself and the investigator offers a glass of water to observe and analyze the respondent's alcohol consumption. This sounds absurd, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
What recruiters observe when the interviewee drinks water
Also known as “testing the water,” it does not take the interviewee out of the tension of the moment, as happened with Steve Jobs when he took him to a bar. Drinking water during a job interview therefore seems to have no consequences. However, it is one of the elements of non-verbal language which can be used by the recruiter to analyze the candidate.
These literally analyze everything. From how fast do you drink up to possible “mistakes” when drinking watersuch as making a lot of noise, a drop slipping, the glass slipping, the person being interviewed getting wet… It is vital to avoid these blunders.
Although it is true that this may seem a little absurd because it has nothing to do with the position to which one aspires, those who put these tests into practice hide behind psychology and how seemingly simple gestures can say a lot about a person. So, even if it is not the only important thing, it must be taken into account.
What to do if they offer you a glass of water during an interview
We start from the principle that It's not every time they offer you water that you will be analyzed. In fact, it may just be a courtesy gesture on the part of the interviewer. However, even in these circumstances, it is advisable not to stop paying attention to the present moment.
The most recommended is accept and thank the invitation. For a simple education. And then, of course, but not as if you were at home. It is advisable to drink water if you have a dry mouth, but do not drink too much and do it at a normal pace and trying not to make noise.
It is important to remain attentive to the questions covered during the interview without being interrupted by water. In other words, don't drink while talking and take advantage of breaks or when the recruiter is speaking to do so. But always with common sense, because you are not going to skip drinking water if you suddenly cough or clear your throat.
Go to the interview prepared and natural, the only two real keys to everything going well
It is also recommended interact just enough with the glassonly when we drink. There are people who, either naturally or because of the nervousness of the moment, need to have something in hand or to play with an object. Well, playing with glass is not a good idea knowing that it can fall and break, in addition to leaving everything soaked.
In short, the basic and universal advice for everything is wear it as normally as possible and, in any nervous state that you may be in, try to remain calm and explain yourself as best as possible to the recruiter's questions.
Cover image | Editing with photography by Kobu Agency on Unsplash
Cover image | Marko Obrvan on Pexels
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