The "Airport" Test

written by Yuan-Wei Tan

The Airport Test is an evaluation method used by hiring managers when critiquing potential hires. When an interview is concluded, the manager will ask herself if, knowing what she has just learned from the interview, the interviewee is the kind of person that she would want to be stuck at an airport with for an extended period of time.

According to Meredith Pepin, a Career Development Specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the test is an alternative to typical behavioral questions that allows the hiring manager to evaluate an interviewee's "soft skills" and personality type to determine a good fit with the company's corporate culture.

"In fact, most employers actually want to gain a better understanding of who you are outside of these cookie-cutter answers," says Pepin who adds that a good fit and ability to get along with other employees is crucial when the nature of the job revolves around working long hours together.

Here are Meredith's tips to pass this test:

Don’t Skip the Small Talk

I’ve found myself having conversations ranging from hobbies to the latest Netflix series with my future supervisor (and her supervisor) during an interview. Very rarely during the luncheon was the conversation pointed toward the office or the position for which I was interviewing, and it was intentional.

What did they want to know? I later asked my supervisor just that. Through these added conversations, she wanted to see if I would connect with the team. Was I interesting? Personable? Could she see herself grabbing a cup of joe with me on the way into work? At meetings, would I embarrass her in front of a client, or would I serve as a friendly, likeable representation of the company?

Whether it’s over a meal or interspersed in a regular interview, you may be surprised to hear a question or two that has zero relevance to the necessary credentials for the position. (What does your interest in fly-fishing have to do with your ability to manage a million dollar marketing campaign? Um, nothing.)

But remember, your interviewers might feel they can get a better glimpse of your character and personality through some of these questions as opposed to the standard ones. So, don’t skip the small talk or necessarily try to move as quickly as possible back to the job at hand. A more casual conversation is a chance to get to know the person beyond practiced answers.

But Keep it Professional

That said, you can absolutely flunk the airport test by being boring or inappropriate. So, it’s crucial to be prepared to answer things like, “What do you do for fun outside of work?" or “Do you have personal interests or passions?" in addition to the more relevant questions.

As you would review and prepare examples of work experiences for an interview, take stock of what you do in your free time. Do you play intramural sports? Volunteer? Read? What would you feel comfortable sharing, and what might be things you want to keep personal? For instance, if you spend part of your weekend supporting a political campaign and are unsure if your personal view will spark debate, it may be best to avoid that topic. On the other hand, if you’re are an avid bird watcher and just spent a week in the Amazon, that might be a good source of conversation with just about anyone in the room, regardless of whether they share that interest.

Here’s a personal example: An interview question I received once was, “What was the last book you read for pleasure?” Unknown to my interviewer, this was unfortunate timing (and, er, phrasing). The last book my book club had selected was Fifty Shades of Grey. Certainly not the type of response I wanted to stand as witness to my outside-of-the-workplace character review. Instead, I responded with my second most recent read, which was much more polished, professional, and interesting. (For the record, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.)

Keep this in mind: Although you should always be authentic in an interview, there is some room to filter your answers and remain selectively professional. Choose those answers that represent the best of you in the interview.

Don’t Forget to Network

Finally, remember that the airport test goes beyond your future manager. Often, companies include an outing or group meeting as part of the interview, ranging from a team breakfast to a casual event at the bar. This is basically a chance for everyone else to get to know you and see how you’d fit in on the team, but it’s also a great way to make a good impression outside of the suit.

So, make sure that you're not just trying to impress the other employees, but that you’re engaging with them. Get to know them, and ask questions about what they love about the company. See what you have in common, and share what makes you interesting both inside and outside of the workplace. (Also, remember that your actions and conversations will still carry weight in the deciding factor of who gets hired—and people will definitely take note if you’re having one too many Chardonnays at the open bar.) But letting your guard down a bit and really talking to people? You never know—it just may set you apart from other candidates.

Read the rest of Meredith's article at The Muse.