Being a co-founder of such a large firm as Apple, Steve Jobs naturally needed some trustworthy employees, so he devised a “test” to help him determine if they were a good fit.
We’re not referring about some difficult pop quiz or personality exam, but rather the straightforward offer to get a beer.
Apparently, Jobs chose to keep things informal by taking candidates for a walk and a beer in an attempt to de-stress and clear their minds.
The “beer test” was an attempt to remove the anxiety that usually accompanies job interviews so that applicants could be authentic.
Though getting a beer with Jobs sounds like a great story, applicants didn’t get off too easy because Jobs still had some questions for them. All in all, it sounds like a fairly nice bargain.
When he got interviewees in the pub, he would reportedly ask them questions such as: “When was the last time you accomplished something?”
And a more straightforward and conversational one: “What did you do last summer?”
Although many managers might have predetermined “right” or “wrong” responses for these types of inquiries, Jobs seemed to be merely attempting to learn more about the person.
Ultimately, the co-founder of Apple stated that his aim while interviewing candidates was to identify the absolute best among the greatest, or the “A-Players.”
Speaking about his employees prior to his death, Jobs said: “I found that when you get enough A-players together, when you go through the incredible job of finding these A-players, they really like working with each other.
“Because they’ve never had the chance to do it before.”
Given how significant Apple is even now, it’s reasonable to conclude that Jobs’ approach has enabled him to leave a long-lasting legacy.
