If you’ve made it to a job interview, chances are you already meet the technical qualifications for the role. Recruiters can quickly assess this from your resume—often in just six seconds, provided it’s well-structured and highlights key achievements.
Interviews, however, go deeper. They help recruiters understand your personality, values, and how you respond under pressure. One such tactic they might use is the “chair test,” a subtle but revealing strategy designed to evaluate your ability to handle discomfort and adapt to challenges.
The Wobbly Chair Test
In this test, the candidate is seated on a chair with a slightly shorter leg, causing discomfort and wobbling throughout the interview. A second chair in perfect condition is placed deliberately next to the candidate.
The interviewer observes whether the candidate remains in the wobbly chair, adapting to the discomfort, or requests to switch to the stable one. If the candidate opts for the latter, the recruiter also evaluates how they make the request.
Job interviews naturally bring a degree of nervousness and uncertainty, making candidates’ responses to this subtle test authentic and unfiltered.
Let’s Face It: The Chair Is Wobbly
The ultimate goal of the test is to evaluate proactivity, the ability to adapt and respond to obvious discomfort in a delicate situation such as a job interview.
Candidates who remain in the wobbly chair demonstrate resilience and the ability to prioritize their goals over discomfort. Their focus on the interview suggests a composed and goal-oriented mindset, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Those who ask to switch chairs show they’re proactive in addressing issues. According to a study by Thomas S. Bateman and J. Michael Crant, proactive individuals are more likely to take steps to change their environment and improve situations.
The manner in which a candidate requests to switch chairs also matters. A polite yet confident approach demonstrates emotional intelligence and effective problem-solving skills.
Research by Gary Yukl, a professor at the University at Albany Business School, highlights that leaders tend to take immediate action when faced with challenges. Switching chairs reflects this leadership quality, showing decisiveness and confidence.
A less appreciated reaction is when the candidate comments on the chair’s instability but does nothing to address it. This passive approach signals an unwillingness to act and shifts focus away from the interview’s primary purpose.
Such behavior can reveal a tendency to point out problems without seeking solutions—a red flag for roles requiring initiative and problem-solving skills.
Image | Allec Gomes (Unsplash)
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