One of my teenagers went in for a job interview a few days ago. This interview was a “group interview” for a large chain retail establishment. Ten or twelve people sat around a table. Most of the people being interviewed were full grown adults, not teenagers. (This age note will become important later.) At the head of the table was the interviewer, and at the other end sat two people with pen and paper, taking notes.

The interviewer began by describing how this store was a wonderful place to work, how the employees were not really employees, but rather “partners.” After this spiel was over, the interviewer pulled out a basket of crayons and a stack of construction paper. She intructed my child and the others to draw a picture of how they imagined themselves working at this store. (OK, at this point I would have lost the job because my hysterical laughter would have convinced the interviewer that I was not partner material.) After they drew their pictures, each person at the interview shared his picture with the others, telling about what he had drawn and why. Then, the interviewer pulled out a basket of exotic fruits and vegetables. She gave one piece of fruit or one veggie to each person and asked them to sell the food item to the rest of the group. They were to tell the group what they thought was good or attractive about this particular food item. All the time the people at the end of the table were taking notes.

I haven’t interviewed for a job in a long while. Is this a typical interview nowadays, or am I justified in wondering whether or not I want my young adult to work at such a nutty place?