Interviewer uses wobbly chair to test how ‘bold’ applicant will be

There are so many ways that interviewers can attempt to trip you up, and it’s all about how you handle it.

It could be using a salt and pepper test, asking a hidden question or even wasting your time to see how you’d fare as an employee.

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs would reportedly take candidates out for a beer to see how they interacted, which probably became pretty taxing after a few rounds.

But it seems that some interviewers will add in extra elements to see how their candidates will react, and the methods aren’t typical office conduct.

This interviewing technique sounds like something you would expect to encounter in a psychological stress test, to see how applicants can be pushed to the furthest degree.

This method involves purposefully seating the candidate on a chair with a wobbly leg.

Interviews can be a daunting process! (Simon Potter / Getty)

That’s pretty weird but read the explanation for it.

The idea behind this unorthodox strategy is to see whether or not they are ‘bold’ enough to ask the interviewers for a replacement chair.

One man told The Mirror US: "My brother was in ROTC in college, and he told me this story. An applicant for ROTC Nuclear Power school would sit the chair in front of the desk of the interviewing officer during the interview.

"There was a second/similar chair in the room available for the applicant - off to the side. The chair in front of the desk for the applicant had one leg of chair - cut shorter - so the person sitting in the chair would wobble - during the interview.

"The successful test was to see if the applicant would be bold enough to stop the interview for a moment - to request to exchange his chair, for second/other chair - so they did not wobble."

Here’s to all of my fellow awkward people who would never land a job through this test!

Thankfully, it’s unlikely we’ll ever need to go through this, but it’s not the only method that’s been cooking in the recruitment kitchen.

Ever heard of the coffee cup test?

There are some strange interview techniques out there. (Westend61 / Getty)

This is one-way interviewers are whittling down people by offering candidates a cup of tea or coffee.

If they accept, then the test is to see if the applicant takes their cup back to the kitchen to wash, or if they leave it for someone else to take care of.

Trent Innes, the chief growth officer of hotel commerce platform SiteMinder, explained: "You can develop skills, you can gain knowledge and experience but it really does come down to attitude, and the attitude that we talk a lot about is the concept of 'wash your coffee cup'."

That said, it's worth making sure you have the skills and experience first but you're welcome to try applying to become a consultant neurosurgeon at the hospital on the back of the coffee cup test.

It might be an idea to go to medical school first.

I once had someone intentionally open the door for me to see whether I’d shake their hand…as someone who loathes physical contact, let’s just say I failed that particular test.