Steve Jobs’ Secret Tip For Passing Any Interview, ‘The Beer Test’ Explained
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Pen Smith - May 28, 2026
At the time of writing, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is dead, but despite this, his words and thoughts live on, influencing everyone from iPhone users to iPod users and everyone in between.
One useful tidbit from back when he could share them: Jobs had a guiding principle for hiring people that he called the “beer test”.
Reportedly, Jobs would take the candidate out for a walk-and-talk around the Apple campus, asking small-talk questions like, “What did you do last summer?” hoping to shake them out of their well-rehearsed interview persona.
Then, after chatting to them for a bit, Jobs would ask himself, “Would I want to get a beer with this candidate?” If the answer is Yes: hired. No: not hired.
“So in the end, it’s ultimately based on your gut,” Jobs explained. “How do I feel about this person? What are they like when they’re challenged?”
Obviously, there were more criteria the candidate would have to fulfil, like “be qualified,” but basically, vibes were also a massive part of it.
Nice Guys Finish First
It’s not even the strangest interview test out there. Gary Shapiro, former CTA CEO (OMG), would ask candidates when they could start, and if they said an enthusiastic “immediately,” that was a red flag because they were willing to screw over their current employer. …You can’t win, can you?
Other “tests” include checking how you greeted the receptionist, whether you washed your coffee cup after the interview, and even asking the waiter at the dinner interview to deliberately mess up the order to see how you’d react.
Seems crazy, but it’s all in an effort to gauge the candidate’s personality beneath the formalities of a job interview.
And the tests might vary, but the advice is the same. If you’re looking for a job, be prepared to be yourself (unless you are unlikable, then it’s probably better to be someone else). People like people that they like and are more likely to hire someone they gel with.
So, along with all your interview prep, maybe ask yourself another question: Do I pass the Beer Test?
Latest news
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Pen Smith - May 28, 2026
Steve Jobs’ Secret Tip For Passing Any Interview, ‘The Beer Test’ Explained



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































