Job hunters literally bent over backwards to try land a position at a new Huddersfield restaurant.
A limbo contest was the biggest test of the day for wannabe recruits to Caribbean-style Turtle Bay, which is to open in the town centre on October 30.
Over 80 people and yours truly queued up around an interview room in the Media Centre on Northumberland Street to showcase their skills- or at least their up-for-anything attitude- in a bid to get one of 50 full and part time jobs as waiters, bar staff or chefs serving up food and rum cocktail.
They were hand-picked from over 500 applications to work at the venue, which will take over the former Cotton Factory site on the corner of King Street and Zetland Street.
And it was new restaurant manager James Moore who moved the bar’s height lower as part of a mad-cap way to find out more about the personalities of those he was going to employ.
While we all sailed through the first round, it was only a flexible and daredevil few that made it into the penultimate round.
But despite some impressive moves, not one passed the final round to be crowned limbo king or queen by Turtle Bay’s representatives, who have recently opened another branch in York .
Fortunately, though, it was not the end of the road for those trying to get a job.
Oli Blackman, Turtle Bay’s bar staff trainer who has helped to open some of the 18 other restaurants around England so far, said: “We just wanted the interview process to be fun and limbo was a great way of doing that.
“We don’t ask anyone to do anything we’ve not done; we end up limboing when we hold these events.
“But what limboing does is allow us to see someone’s true colours. We look for people who are smiling and enjoying themselves.
“And on top of that, it makes for a much more interesting interview than just having people sat down- we want to show that we love to have fun.”
It was just one of the unusual tasks given to attendees during the recruitment drive.
Their collage-making and rapping talents were also called on to highlight their team work and bubbly nature, alongside speed interviews.
One hopeful bar staff applicant, 21-year-old Huddersfield University student Dan Bray, made it through to the final limbo round.
He said: “It was fun but back-breaking work.
“Luckily I used to be a gymnast which helped me; limboing is something that I’ll have to add to my CV.”
Another applicant, Francesca Leon, 19, added: “It’s definitely unlike any other job interview I’ve had before but it’s given me a chance to put my drama skills to good use.”
Turtle Bay managers said that they hoped to create a team from the day’s applicants, who will then get to enjoy tasting cocktails and food as part of their training before the opening night.
