There is significant evidence that "work sampling, " the use of tests similar to the work being performed, is a better predictor of future performance than the usual job-interview chit-chat.

WSJ: How to Ace a Google Interview

So far, it's at tech-oriented conferences like this where people are most aware of the "backchannel, " or the real-time electronic chit-chat going on about presentations as they occur.

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They would often talk about each other's families, about their own activities and other chit-chat.

CNN: Transcript: White House Deputy Counsel Mills' statement