“The Giraffe Test”: Evaluating Creative Thinking During Interviews
During an interview, every candidate faces unexpected questions and tasks designed to assess their creative potential and ability to adapt to unconventional situations. One such task is “The Giraffe Test,” a classic tool in the arsenal of HR agencies.
The essence of this task lies in challenging the candidate to find a logical solution to an apparently absurd question: “How do you fit a giraffe into a refrigerator?” The main goal here is to test the applicant’s ability to think outside the box and demonstrate a humorous approach to problem-solving. A common response to this question might be, “Open the fridge, put the giraffe inside, and close the fridge,” highlighting simplicity and straightforward thinking.
The exercise involves a series of four sequential questions, each requiring both creative and logical thinking. These tasks assess the candidate’s ability to consider the consequences of their actions, their memory, and their capacity to learn from mistakes. For instance, the next question could be: “How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?” A more thoughtful answer would be, “Open the fridge, take out the giraffe, put the elephant inside, and close the fridge.”
According to Anderson Consulting, only 10% of candidates manage to answer all four questions correctly, emphasizing the challenge of the test. However, the true value lies in understanding just how creative and adaptable the candidates are. Any response showcasing originality and out-of-the-box thinking is considered successful.
“The Giraffe Test” helps employers identify potential hires capable of devising unconventional solutions to ordinary problems. For example, this skill is crucial in fields like marketing or IT, where the ability to quickly adapt and think innovatively can determine the success of a project.
In conclusion, “The Giraffe Test” is a distinctive tool for evaluating creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and responses to unexpected situations. This task not only highlights a candidate’s knack for coming up with innovative solutions but also allows them to showcase their personal qualities and potential.
