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How to Spot High Character in a Job Interview
If character is revealed by what you do—not by what you say—how can HR managers truly find someone of high character, a self-starter, a team player, proactive in solving problems? Job ads are filled with those buzzwords, but how can you really know if an applicant walks the talk?
The real proof comes once you hire and observe the new employee on the job. But why take that risk if there’s a simple way to identify a person’s potential before Day One?
Back in the early 1980s, when “Help Wanted: Male” ads still appeared in newspapers, a clever manager devised a brilliant pre-interview test to reveal character before a single word was exchanged.
Here’s how it worked:
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Place a mop and pail in the hallway—just enough to be in the way, but not blocking the door to the waiting room.
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Quietly observe, whether by camera or an assistant, how each applicant reacts upon entering.
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The first applicant who moves the mop and pail out of the way—without being told—gets the job.
The test only works when the applicant is alone. After all, if your existing staff has any initiative, they’d have moved the mop already. The goal is to see what someone does when no one’s watching.
What the Winning Applicant Reveals
Team Player — He clears the obstacle for others, not for personal benefit. His act isn’t performative; it’s instinctive.
Leadership — Seeing that nobody else has taken responsibility, he acts—without seeking credit or applause.
Ownership — He doesn’t even work there yet but fixes a problem someone else caused, confidently and without instruction.
Awareness — He notices potential risks—a tripping hazard—and acts on behalf of unseen others, even while focused on the upcoming interview.
Stories like this resonate with many Venture Up clients during team-building programs. They show that small actions reveal big truths about teamwork, accountability, and trust.
In Venture Up’s Escape the Case series, teams develop these same real-world skills—problem solving, communication, and shared awareness—through challenges designed to build character and connection.
Because the best hires don’t just say the right things.
They move the mop.
Venture Up (est. 1983) is the original team building company, helping organizations build trust and collaboration through real-world experiences.
© 2025 Venture Up Inc. | ventureup.com/about
Keywords: employee engagement, workplace trust, team building, hiring character, leadership culture
