Think you’re nailing your interviews by having all the right skills? Think again.
Career coaches at TopCV have revealed that hiring managers use subtle, ‘hidden’ tests during interviews to assess candidates beyond their experience and skills. From how fast you drink a glass of water to whether or not you bring a pen, the hidden tactics, sourced from Reddit, are designed to uncover your true character, attitude and cultural fit – without candidates even realising they’re being tested.
Experts at TopCV have scraped Reddit for real-life interview experiences, uncovering the wildest questions and hidden ‘tests’ job seekers have faced – and breaking down what hiring managers are really trying to assess with them.
Amanda Augustine, careers expert at TopCV shares, “Unspoken or ‘hidden’ interview tests – such as offering a glass of water to assess confidence – highlight a growing trend in hiring practices where subtle behavioural cues are used to inform decisions. While these tactics may seem harmless or even insightful to some, they can raise concerns about fairness in the recruitment process.”
Four hidden tricks hiring managers use in interviews:
- How a glass of water is an evaluation tool used by employers: It’s common to be offered a glass or carafe of water on the interview table, but according to one user on Reddit’s r/AskReddit, this polite gesture may serve as a subtle evaluation tool.
The user shared that after an interview, they were later told they had passed an unspoken test: the hiring manager placed a jug of water with a cup to observe whether candidates would help themselves. “I was the only one who drank the water at a ‘normal pace’ during the interview,” they wrote. After the meeting, the hiring manager shared that they use this to gauge confidence, viewing those who accept the drink without hesitation as more self-assured and comfortable under pressure.
TopCV notes that declining the drink might suggest discomfort, whereas calmly accepting it can signal confidence. While analysing how someone drinks a glass of water is trivial, some employers interpret micro-behaviours as indicators of how candidates respond in high-pressure situations.
- The irrelevant interview question: Many job seekers have encountered an interview question that seems to have little or nothing to do with the role itself. One user on Reddit’s r/AskUK2 shared that they had been asked, “If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?” – a question that was echoed by several others who had faced the same and were keen to share their thoughts on what makes a good answer.
According to TopCV, there is no right or wrong response to these types of questions. Instead, they are designed to assess how well a candidate handles the unexpected. The key, experts say, is to answer confidently and provide rationale for your choice. This demonstrates quick thinking, creativity and composure under pressure.
- The pen test: a sign of preparation: “If they bring a pen, they’re at the top of the pile of applications,” states one hiring manager on Reddit. While interviews rarely involve heavy note-taking, bringing a pen can still serve as a quiet signal of preparedness, and some hiring managers are paying close attention.
In one Reddit thread on r/jobs, a hiring manager even admitted to pretending they’d forgotten their own pen, just to see if the candidate would offer theirs as a sign of forethought and initiative.
- The hidden power of saying ‘I don’t know’ in an interview: Ever left an interview concerned that you were unable to answer every question? According to one Reddit user, that may not be such a bad thing. In fact, always attempting to answer – even when unsure – can be a red flag, especially in high-stakes fields.
The user, an engineering professional, explained: “One of the most dangerous types of people in an engineering environment is someone who won’t admit they don’t know how to do something … If a candidate couldn’t acknowledge at least once during the interview that they weren’t confident in their answer, I would raise a huge red flag.”
This sentiment is echoed by TopCV which suggests that honesty and self-awareness can be valued more than false confidence. The ability to admit when you don’t know something – and express a willingness to learn – can demonstrate maturity and accountability.
