The "Beer Test"

[k3am]

Has anyone worked for a company that employees this tactic when interviewing?

DH and I were chatting about a "happy hour" he was going to last night. I asked who it was with, and he said some guy he was interviewing. DH has all kinds of wacky theories about business in general, and one of the one's he's successfully propagated in his office is the notion of a "beer test". They have a candidate they like - good resume, good phone screen, sometimes a good in person interview, sometimes before they've gotten there - and they take the guy to happy hour in the evening, refuse to talk about anything specific to the company and see if he passes. Can the guy carry on a conversation, is he relaxed, interesting, intelligent, knowledgeable about current events, cognizant of social norms, etc? 

DH swears by the beer testing, and the idea sounds pretty interesting. It would never fly in my industry, but for DH's, it's apparently perfect. Curious if this is something that other people have heard of and/or used and people's thoughts about it.

[l504]

No, but I could see my DH doing this.

[twinmomma]

That actually sounds awesome! I could see it working really well in my industry, since it's such a creative field.

[2chatter]

I could see HR having an absolute panic attack about the mere thought. Candidate reports "My candidacy was based on my ability to consume alcoholic beverages prior to an offer. Consuming alcohol is against my moral beliefs."

Keep in mind when I first started managing I flew out to meet some of my new directs and invited one out for coffee.
Coffee is verboten in that area and I got seriously chastised.

[frozenpeas]

I've never done this and never heard of it, but now I have so many questions!

Any idea how often your husband actually hires candidates after they make it to this stage? In my office, I could see this giving applicants a lot of false hope, like, "Wow, they must really love me. We're skipping the interview & going right to the celebration!". I wonder if the candidates realize they are still under scrutiny.

[k3am]

2chatter - I don't think it's ever referenced to the candidate as a beer test, and I don't think that someone ordering a soda vs a beer or cocktail would be judged. And I'm sure that's how they would spin it to HR.

But I also know that MY HR would have a conniption fit also.

[doodler]

One of my good friends worked for a start up NSA contractor. They had a standing company-wide happy hour once a month. At one point they were talking to my hubby about working for them and we were invited to the happy hour. My friend was there but it still felt like he was being "interviewed" by everyone else. I would assume it was not their normal protocol because it was initiated by my friend, but I will ask her if they ever did that for other real job candidates!

[psutexan]

I don't think this is any different than when companies take a candidate out to dinner the night before the interview. When I use to do this, I'd take them to a pretty nice restaurant and I'd be judging the whole time how they conduct themselves (table manners, conversation, etc). Because in our business, there is a likelihood you will eventually take a customer out and I'd want to know they know how to act.

I can see how the happy hour option would work for something like a sales interview.

[alioop1028]

Jan 29, 2015 10:38:32 GMT -5 twinmomma said:

That actually sounds awesome! I could see it working really well in my industry, since it's such a creative field.

I thought the same thing! I'm stealing this. Props to your DH k3am.

[k3am]

alioop1028 - I'm also pretty sure part of his motivation was getting this company to pay for happy hour more often.

[alioop1028]

Jan 29, 2015 11:12:39 GMT -5 k3am said:

alioop1028 - I'm also pretty sure part of his motivation was getting this company to pay for happy hour more often.

*Slowly takes company expense card out of wallet* 

[anewadventure]

Jan 29, 2015 10:48:54 GMT -5 2chatter said:

I could see HR having an absolute panic attack about the mere thought. Candidate reports "My candidacy was based on my ability to consume alcoholic beverages prior to an offer. Consuming alcohol is against my moral beliefs."

Keep in mind when I first started managing I flew out to meet some of my new directs and invited one out for coffee.
Coffee is verboten in that area and I got seriously chastised.

wait, wait, what?? what kind of hell is this?

[2chatter]

anewadventure Caffeine is a drug, yeah?
Utah

Edited because I cannot spell when typing

[anewadventure]

Jan 29, 2015 11:52:17 GMT -5 2chatter said:

anewadventure Caffeine is a drug, yeah?
Utah

Edited because I cannot spell when typing

do they also frown upon chocolate? soda? where's the line? WHERE'S THE FUN IN LIFE???

[2chatter]

Yes and yes!
I opened a team meeting initial chat/pleasantries with "I could really use a cup of coffee" prior to the in-state incident. I really wondered why the response I got was "I am sorry".

Despite this there are coffee, soda and chocolate in the buildings - many just choose not to partake. It would be like an alcoholic working in a bar though, I would think....

[anewadventure]

Jan 29, 2015 12:00:43 GMT -5 2chatter said:

Yes and yes!
I opened a team meeting initial chat/pleasantries with "I could really use a cup of coffee" prior to the in-state incident. I really wondered why the response I got was "I am sorry".

Despite this there are coffee, soda and chocolate in the buildings - many just choose not to partake. It would be like an alcoholic working in a bar though, I would think....

::scribbling on post-it:: "never move to Utah."

[pitta12]

We do something similar sometimes, especially when it's a candidate we are either on the fence about or one who we felt gave a lot of interview-speak answers and we are just curious about who they really are in a more relaxed environment. It's typically a lunch rather than a beer, but same idea.

[lynn0514]

When I was finishing up law school and interviewing with some of the "big firms," this was pretty much standard practice.  The night before the (day-long) interview, they would send you out to dinner with a couple of younger associates.  It was definitely to see how you did in making small talk, carrying on casual conversation, etc.  You could order wine/beer or whatever, but you certainly didn't have to.  And then you would usually have to repeat the process the next day, at lunchtime.  Good lord, I don't miss that stuff.  Those interviews were such a process.

[Divefrog]

As much as I can see the nightmares this kind of process could create for HR departments, I really think more companies and interviews should include this kind of activity.

It really has the potential to benefit both sides. One of the questions I am always left completely in the dark about when I have interviewed is "who are the people i will have to work with? will we be able to work well together? will I fit in to the culture?" Having the chance to have a lunch, or casual after work drink with the group and find out a little more about my prospective teammates would have been great.

From the employer/manager perspective I have seen SO many managers hire great people without understanding that they will not be a good fit with the people they already have. This kind of "meet the team" would really help to ensure the best candidate is hired.

[twinmomma]

We do "Beer Thursday" in the office most weeks and have talked about having potential employees join us for that. But the timing has just never worked out quite right. But this makes me want to push that effort more. Nothing's worse than a personality clash between new/old team members.

[2chatter]

I am so jealous. They had a sitewide "event" recently and the name of the place had Bar in the title.
As such, they announced the event and people had to ask other people for the location name as only the address was provided - management would not permit the emailing - even to an individual - of the name of the place.

And on that T&E I was worried - for some reason I ate in a bar/brewery/pub/location with an alcohol in the name every night. I was worried it would legit flag something.

[nolagirl]

I can see how this would be very beneficial in some arenas. If your job has a huge basis in social interaction, why not? It could potential be an HR nightmare, but I can definitely see the benefits of it.

....coffee?? Seriously?!

[queenbabee]

My DH works in sales and absolutely had a beer test (but with burboun, southern family company). It's very common & all new employees do this. ButTBH, the company is kind of a boys club. He sells fishing, hunting, and outdoors stuff.
This would not fly at all for my job though. This is fine with me. I drink to enjoy the fact that I'm not working...why ruin all of my fun?

[Deleted]

We do lunches as part of the interview process.

[gamora24527]

Jan 29, 2015 12:00:43 GMT -5 2chatter said:

Yes and yes!
I opened a team meeting initial chat/pleasantries with "I could really use a cup of coffee" prior to the in-state incident. I really wondered why the response I got was "I am sorry".

Despite this there are coffee, soda and chocolate in the buildings - many just choose not to partake. It would be like an alcoholic working in a bar though, I would think....

Woah, woah, woah...Chocolate is on the no list too? I get coffee and soda (I guess, although not my thing), but chocolate?! I can't get past this.

Also, I wish sometimes that I didn't work for the government so that we could do a beer test. Having good conversational/social skills is so important!

[CurlieWhirlie]

It's such a great idea for small companies, I feel like this would work especially well in tech companies in the SF Bay Area. This would never fly in my company, we're too big and it's simply not supportable. Plus we're very stodgy and conservative overall, even if my particular office is not.

[olenka]

I work for the state, so this would not be OK.

When I was just out of grad school, I interviewed with one of the big management consulting firms where an evening out drinking was a part of the hiring process. I think they wanted to see how you could handle yourself socially, how well you could schmooze, etc.

[Pevensie]

Yup, I think law firms do this a lot, though the beer is usually wine and comes with a side of dinner. But the general point is the same -- no interview questions, talk about tv and news and whatever, see if it's someone you would want to spend a lot of time with.

[Deleted]

Cheaper than a round of golf.

Nothing new here.

[kendraj426]

I've never heard of this, but have a feeling it wouldn't go over well in our company. Or at least not for our team. Our team is a highly skilled technical team - we do a lot of 'Database Administration' type work without the actual title of DBA. I'm pretty sure many of the people on our team would never pass this test, but they are wonderful at their jobs. This seems to be a better test for a more social type of job, or possibly management - someone that has to work with the public or has to be able to be diplomatic & schmooze people.

That being said, I'd never say no to a happy hour where I get to talk to potential candidates for a position on our team. Beer on the company and (hopefully) interesting conversation - count me in!