In our narcissistic age, nothing beats good manners
Last week, a 20-year-old student came into my office, looking for work experience this summer. He was so polite — in a shy, understated, non-oily way — that I was very keen to help him.
It was like meeting a time-traveller from the 1950s: no showing-off, just a gentle display of intelligence teased out from behind his veil of self-effacement. He even washed up his cup after I’d told him he didn’t need to.
I must introduce a Teacup Test for future interviewees, to see what they do with the cup at the end of the interview.