Job seekers have discovered that Olive Garden requires a personality quiz featuring AI characters acting out hypothetical scenarios as part of its hiring process. The tests, provided by conversational recruiting software Paradox.ai, have sparked criticism online, with a recent TikTok video reigniting the conversation.
What the Test Involves
Last month, TikTok user Jackson Haws shared a video of the assessment he completed while applying for a server job at the restaurant chain. The clip showed AI-generated characters with light blue skin and neon navy hair standing in a lunch room. One scenario depicted a character with multiple pizza slices on her plate while a colleague walked toward an empty box without lunch. Haws had to indicate whether he identified with the pizza hog.
“For who? For what? What kind of dog s*** test is this?” he said. “Hey, guys, step it up. This is not science.”
Other prompts were even more confusing, including one showing an AI character looking at a painting and another asking if he wore costumes. “I’m trying to serve tables,” he said. “I’m trying to bring food to people’s tables.” He noted that he was only at the beginning of the long quiz and questioned whether any answers were weighted or could disqualify him.
Social Media Backlash
The video has garnered over 900,000 views, with users criticizing the quiz. “It’s degrading honestly wtf,” one wrote. Another added: “Holy F*** the job market is shit. This is insane.” A third commented: “This looks like a test the sims would take to get matched to a career,” while a fourth joked: “I feel like the test here is whether you're willing to do the dumbest tasks on planet earth for a check, which actually is a requirement for working at Olive Garden.”
Haws told The Independent: “I finished the assessment, it told me I was a ‘strong leader’ and a week later I received an email of declination. There was never an interview or further interaction. The experience felt disrespectful and dehumanizing.” The Independent has contacted Olive Garden for comment.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time the AI quizzes have gained attention. In 2024, TikTok user Katrina shared a video of the same test while applying at Olive Garden, showing the same blue AI character in front of a painting. “This one is particularly confusing. Is there a correct answer?” she said. “Were they not going to hire me if I said that I don’t understand paintings?”
Olive Garden isn’t alone in using these tests. In 2024, 404 Media reported that McDonald’s and FedEx also employed similar evaluations. Social media users have mocked the tests on Reddit, with one writing: “I don't get what the goal is here. Are they trying to profile you without asking for a photo, video, or something? Whatever it is, it seems super sketchy to me.” Another added: “Holy smokes. I'd probably pass on that place if I were subjected to something like that.”
