Charles Schwab CEO tests the character of job candidates by arranging for their orders to be wrong at breakfast interviews
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3457620/Charles-...
dailymail.co.ukPosted Feb 22, 2016, 2:26 PM UTC
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dailymail.co.ukThey should test how management handles requests to go to the restroom when limited to 20min of 'out of compliance' time a MONTH. /notbitteroranything
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Wait. You have to ask to go to the bathroom?
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It was implied that going to the restroom outside of scheduled breaks and lunch was going to negatively impact performance reviews, and that implication turned into 'can't handle change' when the policy was questioned with data showing how unreasonable it was.
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Fuck that noise. No job is worth that bullshit.
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agreed.
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Meh. For the right set of benefits I'll get me a catheter.
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Did you have to flag Lync when you went to the bathroom?
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We had a tool that had a current working state in and it tracked your day by the second. You switched it from available, break, lunch, etc.
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It's a good test. You want to make sure the person has balls to speak up to make sure things are right, but the character to not be disrespectful or snobby to the waiters.
My girlfriend used to have a boss at Disney World who would take potential new hires (management level and higher) to lunch and and see if they tested their food prior to putting salt on it. Evidently it told them if you were the type of person to take un calculated risks or not.
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From a culinary background / standpoint - applying any seasoning to a dish without first tasting it is an insult to the chef and is bad etiquette.
It was prepared in such a manner deliberately. You should at least try it as it was intended by the chef before modifying it.
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These were pretty decent restaurants too. Not 3 star or anything but definitely the kind who had professional chefs.
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At Disney? It's likely no different than any other chain restaurant, not something one would call a "dish".
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Disney has plenty of high-end restaurants as well, I'm sure they take them to one of those.
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Immediate rejection. Tapatio or bust.
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Valentina you filthy casual.
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And el yucateco for those with cajones
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Cholula is my spicy Latina mistress!
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I'd always heard that myth about JC Penney or Henry Ford.
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It was a good test. Once it's on the internet, people will be prepared and guarded, so that their response is no longer natural.
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So what's everyone's opinion of what the correct answer should be? I suppose mine would be: "Excuse me, waiter? I just wanted to warn you that there may be a mix up of orders. See, I ordered the pancakes but got the hash browns. I can work with the hash browns, no problem. But another customer may end up receiving pancakes instead of the hash browns he or she ordered. Just thought you should be aware of a possible situation. Thank you."
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I don't think there's a "correct" answer to this.
There's certainly incorrect answers to it, but from the article it seems like it's a fairly open question.
For me, unless it was something significant, I'd probably say something like "I thought I ordered hash browns, not pancakes... oh well" and not even mention it to the waiter. I have no food allergies and there are very few things I wouldn't eat, so... why bother waiting for a new plate of food?
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"I'm probably wrong here, but I am pretty sure I ordered Mickey Mouse pancakes with extra whipped cream and this seems to be whole wheat toast with low-fat butter and turkey bacon. Now, I am pretty nervous because I am having a breakfast interview with THE CEO OF CHARLES MUFUCKIN SCHWAB so I am sure this is MY MISTAKE... HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?!?"
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Perhaps I should rephrase: What response do you think would most impress the CEO of Charles Schwab in this situation?
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What response do you think would most impress the CEO of Charles Schwab in this situation?
Again, I don't think there's one single "right" answer to it. The one I responded to is one I personally would HATE to hear, because it sounds like you're trying too hard. I think the "right" answer is how you react after you realize there's been a mistake, whether you're polite or not.
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Okay, so umm... what?
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The correct answer is to do your research that he does this, show up earlier, and offer a bigger tip to get your order right and never have the issue in the first place.
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That seems like it'd work, unless the CEO is the type to have done his research beforehand also, and found out that you do this, so he offers you an even bigger tip to make sure you don't show up early and offer the restaurant a tip.
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Yeah that's how'd I'd respond, if I noticed.
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And you probably wouldn't get the job if the CEO of Charles Schwab is the one you'd be going to breakfast with.
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So in your opinion, what would get you the job?
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"Excuse me waiter, I have a proven track record of being a hard worker and a team player in a variety of settings at large enterprises and SMEs. My time at Excorp really allowed me to diversify my skill set away from purely technical to collaborative and interpersonal. Also you got my order wrong you fucking asshole"
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Flip the table, pee on the mess.
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IDGAF
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I would imagine that the interviewee's response just acts as one of many puzzle pieces. CEO probably gauges your response in relation to your resume, work history, etc. If you have no proven track record of handling conflict and you stay quiet, maybe he views that as being a doormat. If your resume shows you to be adept at handling complications, maybe your silence about your pancakes is indicative of an ability to pick your battles.
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I kind of wish he went into more detail. In my case, during an interview, I'd likely just eat what I got, unless it was obviously wrong. Is that so bad? I'm not sure, maybe the CEO would see it as some kind of weakness when, if it were not an breakfast interview I might make a small complaint to the wait staff or even return my order completely. I'm of the mindset that if they can screw such a simple detail up maybe it's possible they end up giving me botulism or some shit.
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I thought of this, too. The interview situation can change how you'd react as opposed to a casual meal out with a friend/family member/SO. I'd very likely be thinking, "Getting this job would change my life drastically. I've prepared for many hours to interview well right now. Screw the hashbrowns! I'm focusing on the CEO!"
Also: Is the mistake major or minor? Did they give me something I strongly dislike or something I like that is just as good? There are many variables. I doubt the CEO would be able to tell. While I see the point and think it can be useful in some ways, I'd be pretty pissed if I lost an important job for not speaking out about or returning a minor meal mistake that I was okay with.
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Based on his emphasis for empathy and knowing the janitor's name, my assumption is that the only true fail of the test is to treat anyone in the situation poorly, like they're beneath them. He seems to be saying "Anyone that reaches interview level with me clearly has the qualification, but HOW do they treat people?" So, he doesn't quite care if the person has their food fixed or not, it's about how they ask to have it fixed.
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If I were conducting a breakfast interview I would arrange to have the bill placed right in the middle of the table and see what happens
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If I am interviewing a candidate that I invite to a meal, then I am paying for that meal.
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Business etiquette dictates that the interviewer should pay for the meal since it is the interviewer that is arranging the interview.
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Obviously, which is why letting it sit there would be a curve ball
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Nah if you were doing interviews you'd probably be at the point of realizing that it'd be rude to expect the interviewee to pick up the check for something that is a business expense for you.
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Rose, ours is Rose or Rosie.
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What a fuckin troll.
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I think this is more than simply seeing how you respond, but the manner you respond. Do you interrupt your conversation to engage the waiter? Or do you wait for an appropriate opening? It's not just what you say, but how you say it, and when.
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As someone who eats like a dumpster, I don't even see how this is a test. I'm sure that it's good food either way.
That's just one way to react. Some people may lose their shit. Others may just make subtle jabs at the waiter or talk about him behind his back. Some people may say nothing and may not eat it. Some people may point it out and eat it or maybe say they e never had this but they're willing to try new things. Some people may quietly and tactfully address it with the waiter and ask for their original order. Some people may not even notice.
Depending on the reaction, someone could be seen as a pushover, too aggressive, problem solver, adventurous, etc.
Sounds like you can read whatever you like into it.
basically. but, as others have said, in this context it basically boiled down to he wanted to see how the interviewee would treat the waitstaff
Should you return it calmly or take what you get?
Would your manager see that as being too complacent in a results-driven industry, or a sign of being adaptive in an ever-changing market?
I imagine the "correct" response here would be to address the waiter by name, state the exact nature of the problem without assigning blame, and ask if it can be fixed easily. Listen to the waiter's response, and decide if you want them to fix it, or if you are willing to take what you were given.
Pretty much the correct response whether or not you are at a job interview.
It's a good test to see how someone treats other people. Women should do this on dates, too. If your date treats the wait staff like crap, that is the way he treats people. Stay far, far away from him.
Yeah men should do this, too.
Yea, everyone should sabotage everyone. Makes dates better. I'm sure the waitstaff will love this trend.
Apparently Bettinger gives good tips in exchange for doing so
There used to be (still is?) a trick in my parents' day where a gal on a first date sends her roommate down to the lobby to flirt with her suitor on her way out of the building. If he politely declines they know he's reliable. If he's trying to stack his deck with a backup date, she's probably not even going to give him the chance.
There's better ways of finding out if you're with the wrong person than wasting food and waiters/chefs time cooking meals no one is planning to eat.
And what's with 'women' should do this on dates? Is it impossible for a man to end up with a psycho or something?
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