After going through the hassles of interviewing, not getting an offer sucks.
Your first assumption is you weren’t qualified, but that’s not always true.
You also could have failed any number of hidden tests, some of them very evil.
Check out our evil week tag page.
Here are some of the tests and how to ace them, even if they are stupid and invasive.
The car you drive and what’s in plain view answer questions that the employer never asked you.
I learned most of these car tests from a major health care IT provider.
They’ll look at bang out of car you drive and its condition.
They’ll compare that to your previous income.
Sure, maybe you’re frugalbut if other things are inconsistent, the car raises more questions.
They might even ask you why you drive such an old car.
They’ll look at the interior.
Do you have fast food containers all over the place?
How you keep your car tells them how keep your cubicle and could preview your work habits.
If you smoke, your car screams that habit.
Even if you’ve cleaned the ashtray, that yellow film gets everywhere.
The bumper stickers are the obvious give away.
Answers about your politics, religion and age are all there.
Less obvious are things like the magazines inside the car or a car seat.
Employers shouldn’t ask about your familial status.
If you’ve got a car seat or other child related items, they know the answer.
Is it evil for them to look in your car?
Do some companies do it anyway?
They put themselves at risk for a discrimination suit.
Most applicants aren’t thinking the employer’s looking at the car.
you’re free to’t claim religious discrimination if it didn’t come up in the interview.
You also can’t prove they looked in your car.
How do they know which car is yours?
When you’re doing the interview, an administrative assistant goes out and looks at the car.
They’ll keep a watch out for where you park or just look at the visitor parking.
The really sneaky assistants give you a parking pass to put on your car.
The Fix: Clean Your Car
Clean your car out completely.
Before you go to the interview, take it to the car wash.
If you smoke, get the car detailed.
Remove any personal items from view.
Stash the car seat in the trunk and take off those bumper stickers.
They’re also looking at the technical aspects of the email.
If you’re employed, the company is looking at the times you’re sending the email.
The potential company may hold that against you.
I learned these tests from some other computer support companies.
The headers on an emailtell you where the message was sent from.
Your email headers also suggest inconsistencies in your story or experience.
That’s why it’s a hidden test.
Employers will use the email account you give them toresearch your social media profiles.
If you respond to emails during the workday, don’t respond immediately.
Respond just a few times a day (this is amore productive way to approach email anyway).
If you’re responding quickly, explain why.
Don’t say “it’s slow at work” even if it is.
Instead say “I’m taking a late lunch” or “I’m on my break.”
The Test: Everyone Is Interviewing You
Your interview is at 11 AM.
You walk into a room with someone in a business suit and then you answer questions.
That’s your interview, right?
The minute you leave your home until you get back is potentially your interview.
This isn’t paranoia, but at a company you’ll be working with lots of people.
That list includes the employees, but also the vendors and customers.
They’re all stakeholders in your job and could report back to the hiring manager.
The person most likely to be watching you is that receptionist.
You walk up to the desk and say you have a 11 AM interview with John Smith.
You sit and wait for Mr. Smith to call you back.
That receptionist is going to report back not just your demeanor when introducing yourself.
He or she will also report back what you did while you were waiting.
Chatting on your mobile phone?
Evil managers will purposefully make you wait as a test.
or “Where else are you applying?”
Your guard is down because you think this is a fellow applicant.
After the interview is just as important as before the interview.
Lots of times people will walk outside and call someone to report on how the interview went.
You’re not thinking about the surrounding people.
Those people could report back.
They’re near the new job’s office, so they may know the company.
I’ve never heard about employers planting eavesdroppers outside the building.
I do know bystanders will report back if they overhear something worth sharing.
This includes not just outside the building, but coffee shops and restaurants in the area.
I didn’t want to work with that person, so I told my boss.
The guy didn’t get the job.
I like to think of it like a reality show.
A hidden camera is watching everything you do.
Some producers are going to make you look as dumb as possible.
Assume everyone is reporting back to the hiring manager.
Outside of there, watch what you say or do.
They’ll tell you it’s about getting to know you a bit better.
Nothing’s wrong with that.
Of course, you’ll watch your table manners and see if you act professionally.
The interviewers are looking for much more and the evil ones might even set you up a bit.
How you act as a customer often indicates how you’ll deliver customer service.
If you’re rude to a server, you’ll probably be rude to a customer, too.
The decision about where to eat could even be part of the test.
Some companies won’t give you a choice of where to eat.
The evil managers pick a noisy place to see how you’ll do under that stress.
A former boss would do this to applicantsI hated it.
He tried this test on me when I interviewed.
You’ll ask for the chicken alfredo and they give you the chicken parmesan instead.
Part of the interview is how you handle problems.
Do you speak up?
The real obnoxious interviewers will pay the server to spill something on you.
Only the most evil employers start reading into what you ordered and how you season your food.
If youseason your food without tasting it, you aren’t analytical.
Guys who order salads are weak and women who order steaks are aggressive.
The phrase “in vino veritas” comes to mind.
A tipsy applicant lets their guard down.
If company is this evil, consider it a blessing you fail the test.
No matter what happens at the meal, your potential employer is watching your interactions and reactions.
If the server makes a mistake, just assume it’s a test.
Pass the test by solving the problem, instead of reacting to it.
Keep your food simple.
Don’t order anything with alcohol.
Ever.Check the menu in advanceand know what you’re going to order.
If you have special dietary needs, ask for accommodation in advance.
Most employers aren’t using all these tricks during the interview process.
