To take some beer to a job interview?

[reallybadidea]

I have an interview for a new job in a few weeks' time and as part of it I've been asked to do a 10-minute presentation on beer making The job is in healthcare, so absolutely nothing to do with the beer industry!

WIBU to take along a few sample of beer for the interview panel and do a mini blind-tasting session, relating the beers in question to the presentation? Or would that be totally bonkers and look really unprofessional?!

How long have you got, OP? I like the idea of samples but alcohol might be too risky. What about hops? Would you be able to get any samples? They could smell them & try match them up with the beer.

Don't ask them to spit it out ffs. Honestly do you just not want the job?i honestly just think you're on the wind up now.

Take alcohol free beer!

I have a vision of you arriving for the interview and plonking yourself down in the waiting room with the other candidates, and your bag clinking and a couple of beers falling out.

Lots of tutting and faces ensue..

It's a bit bizarre as you're in healthcare. When I applied for a role in marketing things like this were par for the course. I once had to design lingerie for men

Why are they asking you to do this?

Rather than take along beer, I'd take along some components - hops, grains, yeast, etc as props. Easy to get hold of and still gives you the interaction aspect, but without risk of contravening any policy.

Good luck

Love the topic! I'm assuming it's a random topic to show your presentation skills.

So yes you need to engage with the interview panel, make them remember you! They've given you that topic so no point being all righteous and pretend you're t-total. But check policy. Is it some sort of test relevant to the role?! Where is the interview being held? Who will be interviewing you? If it's a medical facility, public about etc I'd probably stick to non-alcoholic and talk about why the non alcoholic beer might taste different to what you're used to because of difference in process. If you are 100% sure that taking alcohol onto the premises is allowed and there isn't any danger of getting in trouble for condoning drinking alcohol, then do it, take some proper stuff to illustrate the point between processes - lager Vs Ale etc

A presentation about beer - for a job in healthcare?
How ironic.

Beer making, not beer tasting...and unless you made the beer samples should not be given.

This is about researching something and synthesising the info rather than drinking beer, obviously. I agree about taking the raw materials in and looking at what they all add to the mix.

Definitely don't take alcohol. That would risk breaching policies. I like the idea of the constituent ingredients if that's viable though

How about non-alcoholic beer? You could then talk about the health benefits of non alc beer (recent studies have shown benefits for sleep, anxiety, and even lactation).

I wouldn't be allowed to drink it whilst at work.

Taking in alcohol likely to make the wrong impression.

It would be a big no in any city firm (despite the drinking culture), I can't imagine it would go down well in healthcare. I would not employ you, it's too 'far out' for a job interview, it's a good idea but use a different product. What happens if someone on the panel is a non drinker for personal or religious reasons? Even non-alcoholic drinks have a tiny amount of alcohol.

Every place I've ever worked has had strict no alcohol on the premises rule. Sack able offence. I work for the NHS and there is no chance I'd ever take alcohol into work. It's a huge no no

It would be totally inappropriate behaviour, so you'd be straight out of the door.

I've done presentations for Healthcare and SW roles, I was once given the topic of milk.

'Unusual', 'funny' presentations were marked down.

It sort of shows your level of professionalism and respect for the setting.

Do not take in alcohol, the NHS are, quite rightly so, very strict on this.

I used to do pr and marketing for some beer brands - I've given a few presentations in my time!

What we would do is take samples of the ingredients, so some hops etc. Then you can pass them around for people to smell, feel etc. I'm sure you can order the relevant ingredients online and get lots of info before you order. Then you can point out what type of hops they are and how that affects the flavour, e.g. They might be woody or sweet, invite the panel to smell them and see if they can pick up those notes from the smell.
Trust me, people love to smell and hold the different ingredients!
You could then have one bottle of beer, pour it into a glass and talk about how the ingredients used in that beer lend its deep colour / scent etc. You could then mention the effect on flavour and make a comment along the lines of 'you'll have to wait for after work drinks to put your new knowledge to use though!'

This way you are getting all the interactivity without the alcohol consumption, and it shows more about the actual process

Just to add, the strange topics are often picked to test your ability to convey information on subjects that you may not know much about, in a concise, understandable way.

Despite the random topic they're obviously testing your research/ interview technique and I don't see that your samples would anything to that, but would be risky as others said.

Good luck

Really like the non-alcoholic beer idea!

Incidentally slightly shocked by the thought of all these alcohol free workplaces. Could be a law firm thing but can't ever imagine that working in any of my previous firms!

Good luck with the interview OP. Just a thought though, if you do take beer in be aware that some beer is not suitable for vegetarians as they use fish products in the process.

It could also be a test to see if you are aware of their zero tolerance to alcohol.