Lucy Devine
A job applicant has revealed how they were hired after completing the 'water test' in an interview - unbeknownst to them, of course.
Preparing for a job interview can be terrifying.
Not only do you need to be clued up on the company, but you also want to nail your answers, negotiate salary expectations *and* have some of your own questions ready at the end, too.
Then there's the multiple tricks and techniques to look out for, such as the 'beer test' and the 'salt and pepper' challenge.
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There's also another test that's been spoken about on social media and if you're anything like one applicant, you might not have heard about it.
In a post on Reddit, one person asked hiring managers to reveal any 'special tests' they have for candidates - and one applicant revealed a very specific challenge that most people probably wouldn't think much of.
"Not a Hiring Manager but I spoke to mine after being hired and she told me that a method that they use when hiring, is they put a jug of water with a cup out to see if anyone would drink it while being interviewed," they wrote.
"I was the only person who drank the water at a 'normal pace' during the interview and this is seen as being 'confident in the workplace environment by accepting a gift or offer'.
"Apparently you can tell that a lot about a person from the way they refuse the offer of the water or by drinking it too fast.
"If you encounter a similar situation in an interview and are wondering what a 'normal pace' is, I just drank after I answered each question."
Another thing the water test can gauge is whether a person will 'clean up after themselves' in the office, according to news.au, if they pick up their glass.
Responding in the comments, one person believed they may have unwittingly been involved in the 'water test' without actually realising it.
"There was water on the table when I interviewed for my current job. Maybe that's why they hired me when I was only half-qualified," they wrote.
Some people took issue with the test, however, with many fearing they would miss out for choosing not to drink the water.
One person commented: "I'd politely refuse it even if I were thirsty because I'm wearing lipstick and wouldn't want to leave a stain on the cup. So that seems like a test that probably ends up discriminating slightly against women (and men who choose to wear cosmetics)."
And another said: "Yeah, I'm with you on that. Lipstick stains are embarrassing, and most interviews are 30-60 minutes, I wouldn't get exceptionally thirsty, and what if it made me have to pee?
"Also, I can keep my voice utterly calm and pleasant even when I'm totally freaking out in my head, but my hands sometimes can have a little bit of a tremor. Not good circumstances for drinking water!"
Meanwhile, a third wrote: "I always drink fast, it would easily be misinterpreted."
Others said it was a 'stupid' way to find employees.
What do you think?