I’m a fan of the Next Food Network Star show on the Food Channel. It’s a terrific example of trying out for a job. My personal favorite contestant since the first show, Jeffrey, lost to Melissa D’Arabian at the season finale. Her win had become predictable as judges showered her food with praise each week. A more inventive, less boring, Jeffrey, had spectacular failures during the season as he competed. Interestingly, About.com’s Brett Moore, agreed with me in his assessment of this year’s contestants.
While I’ll give Melissa’s new show a shot, I’m unlikely to become a continuing fan of her down home, folksy, family style; I might have become a regular viewer had Jeffrey won. But, About.com’s Apryl Duncan, is a big Melissa fan and shares her home situation as a stay-at-home mom.
Behavioral interviews with candidates allow you to assess what they have accomplished rather than what they think they can accomplish. An actual tryout or test tells you even more about your potential employee. The Food Network eliminates nine contestants in increasingly challenging competition. A software development company I know challenges potential developers with a white board test to assess the way a potential employee attacks and solves problems. At the same time, the interviewers assess their coding acumen.
Potential customer service employees are often tested with real emails from customers so the interviewers can see how they will interact with customers. In another company, writers must develop a book chapter based on their testing of the company’s product.
Just as I am a fan of the Food Network Star show, I am a fan of testing potential employees with real work challenges. In fact, if it is possible, I like to invite an applicant to work in the company for a few days to assess their interaction on the job.
Of course, this is not always possible as employed individuals are unlikely to be available for tryout work and candidates must all be given the same opportunity to impress. But, think about the jobs you are currently filling. Do you have a way to test and assess your candidates’ potential to succeed?
More About Job Interviews
- Interview Questions for Employers.
- Behavioral Interviews.
- Conduct Powerful Job Interviews Email Class.
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I AM SO GLAD THAT MELISSA D’ARABIAN WON THE “FOOD NETWORK STAR” SHOW. SHE COOK THE KIND OF FOOD THAT WE ALL NEED AFTER A BUSY DAY. ALSO, HER FOOD IS NUTRICIOUS AND HEALTHY–NOT TRENDY.
I WOULD DEFINITELY WATCH HER SHOW EACH WEEK. IN FACT, I HAD TAPED THE LAST SHOW AND JUST TYPED HER RECIPE FOR THE 4-STEP CHICKEN AND WILL BE MAKING IT FOR A DINNER SOON.
AFTER SEEING JEFFREY MAKE HIS “STEAK SANDWICH” WITH A FOREIGN SPICE, I WOULD NOT WATCH HIS SHOW EVERY WEEK.
I HAVE BEEN COOKING FOR A LARGE FAMILY SINCE I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD (68 YEARS) AND MELISSA’S RECIPES ARE NEW AND SEEM TO BE FOR THE FAMILY AND PEOPLE WHO COOK EAT AT HOME ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
SINCERELY,
RUTH ELLIS
SUN CITY, AZ
I am a retired career person for 6 years. No children. I will watch this lady cook on a TV show. She is multi-tasking! I will be looking forward to her TV show. From the early days of the competition, I thought she had a ‘television presence’ and would win the competition.
MELISSA D’ARABIAN show will not catch my attention I would of preferred to learn new spices then to learn how to put a meal together in 30 minutes that is what Rachel Ray is for to show how to put a complete meal together after a hard day of work, and not only that most of all there shows is base on a complete meal in 30 mins Jeffery didn’t have a chance in the beginning they just kept him around to keep people interested in the show.
JEFFREY SAAD WAS THE TRUE ESSENCE OF PASSION AND FOOD IN THIS COMPETITION. HE WAS CHARISMATIC AND GREAT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA NOT TO MENTION HOW WELL HE BROUGHT FOOD TO LIFE. THIS IS WHAT FN NEEDED AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE OUTCOME BUT ARE CERTAIN THAT WE WILL SEE MORE OF HIM ON TV.
We are extremely sad that Jeffrey was not chosen as the winner. He brought something very special and unique. We DO NOT need any more of the same programs with the same kind of personalities. How different is this lady compared to the rest?
I think that Melissa and Jeffery were okay, but I would like to see something different, unique.
i interveiwed for a sous chef position at CBS for a new show and they told me they were using food network sous chefs i think they lied to me.and wasted my time and money