Job interviews are often about far more than resumes, qualifications and technical skills. From body language and communication style to confidence, etiquette and decision-making, recruiters frequently evaluate candidates on subtle behavioural cues during the hiring process. In today’s highly competitive job market, even small actions during an interview can shape first impressions and influence recruitment decisions. Recently, career coach Simon Ingari shared a story of one such job interview on his X-handle, where the candidate was evaluated on a rather strange assessment.
Strange interview test leads to rejection
As per the post, the candidate received a call from the company’s HR department informing him that the organisation would not be moving forward in the hiring process. Curious about the rejection, the applicant politely asked for feedback regarding the reason behind the decision. What followed left many social media users stunned.
According to the HR representative, the deciding factor was the candidate’s response when refreshments were offered during the interview. The recruiter explained that while both snacks and water had been placed before the applicant, he chose to eat the snacks instead of simply opting for water. The company allegedly considered this part of an informal behavioural assessment designed to judge qualities such as discipline, impulse control and decision-making under casual circumstances.
Candidate hits back with prompt response
The candidate, visibly surprised by the explanation, questioned whether his professionalism was truly being measured based on eating food during an interview. However, the HR executive defended the practice, claiming that the exercise helped the company evaluate a person’s cultural fit beyond conventional interview answers and technical performance.
Not convinced by the reasoning, the applicant responded sharply, stating bluntly that he was actually relieved not to be selected if such unconventional ‘hunger tests’ formed part of the company’s hiring culture. His response quickly resonated online, with many users criticising the interview method and calling it excessive, unrealistic and unfair.
The post soon gained traction across social media platforms, sparking widespread discussions around toxic workplace expectations, bizarre recruitment strategies and the growing pressure candidates face during job interviews. While some users argued that companies often observe small behavioural cues during interviews, others felt the assessment crossed the line between professional evaluation and unnecessary psychological testing.