Workshop’s Jamie Kwong reveals how the water test works in a job interview

WHAT does a glass of water at a job interview have to do with whether or not you get the gig? More than you think.

A GREAT résumé, the right answers in the interview and stellar references may not be enough to nab the dream job in a competitive employment market.

With so many qualified candidates out there, employers are able to be much pickier. We all know that presenting well in the job interview is important but you may be leaving the wrong impression without even knowing it.

There are a few little-known tricks employers use to see if you’re the right fit for them.

One of these is the ‘water test’. A candidate is given a glass of water at their interview and at the end of the interview, as everyone is getting up to leave the room, the interviewer will pick up his/her own glass and look to see if the candidate will do the same. The crux of this little test is to see if the candidate is polite and considerate, and offer to clean up after themselves or if they’re the type of person who leaves things behind and expects someone else to do the dirty work.

You’re being assessed on much more than your CV.

US software company HubSpot insisted it’s a good barometer for someone’s character.

Locally, boutique advertising firm Workshop has been doing the same test for years. But the water test is not the only trick employers have up their sleeve.

Workshop chief executive Jamie Kwong told news.com.au the water test is not a deal breaker but it gives him insight into whether that person will be a good cultural fit.

He said it’s something the company instils into its own employees — to clean up after themselves in their own office or at someone else’s office.

Mr Kwong said by the time he sat down with prospective employees, they have already been vetted in terms of their qualifications and experience, and it’s really more about whether they would be a cultural fit for the business.

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Another ‘test’ Workshop carries out is to observe how an interviewee greets the person who answers the door because most people assume that person is a receptionist or office manager, and Workshop is looking for people who treats everyone well.

Always be nice to whoever opens the door for you.

He said: “We try to hire the best people because we want to do the best work. We also owe it to the people on the team, you don’t want to just invite anyone into the family. They need to share the same values.

“You can’t teach people to care, that’s something they’re brought up with. We want our guys to really care about their work and who they do it for. We also want them to care about themselves and their own development. Someone who really cares about a job is not going to be rude to the person who answers the door.”

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Mr Kwong said there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hiring and it’s often about instinct. But all those little tests candidates don’t even know they’re being assessed on contribute to the overall impression.

Because Mr Kwong’s business is in the creative industry, he also quizzes candidates on what magazines they read, what TV shows they’re watching and what their interests are.

“It’s to get a sense of how inquisitive they are, how active their minds are,” he said.

He’ll also throw in questions such as “What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt from your parents?”.