During a one-on-one conversation with my manager, we discussed a unique aspect of our company's hiring process for leadership positions. She revealed that the executive team has a practice of inviting candidates and their spouses to dinner during the interview process. The purpose behind this unusual step is to observe how the candidate's spouse interacts during the dinner, which ultimately influences the executive team's decision on whether the candidate is a good fit for the role.
To illustrate, my manager shared an example where a candidate's spouse was overly talkative during the dinner, leading to the conclusion that the candidate might struggle to assert themselves effectively. In this instance, it was seen as a warning sign that the candidate might not be suitable for the position. The words used were; “There was one candidate we dodged a bullet with”.
I sort of sat there in silence after my manager was done talking. I couldn't believe what I just heard.