Sitting in the ‘Hot Seat’
How many times have you heard that phrase used when you are going into an interview? Maybe you said it yourself when you entered the room, or possibly the interview team said, “we know this must feel like the hot seat.”
The terminology of “hot seat” is an interesting turn of phrase when you think about interviewing. It has been said to mean that the person sitting in the hot seat is being asked to be responsible for important or difficult things. How is this possible when you are walking into an unfamiliar workplace with people that you may not know?
When interviewing, I encourage people to think about “being the answer” for the job. The interviewing team wants you to be the right fit; they want you to be the answer to their need. The process used in narrowing potential candidates for a position is long and arduous. The team usually settles on the few that they think will be the best fit for their company culture.
One needs to keep in mind that the hot seat can be experienced on both sides of the interviewing table. Life is too short and work hours are too long for a candidate to end up in a position that doesn’t fit nor bring them fulfillment. You need to be assessing the situation while the interview is happening. Ultimately, it would be wonderful if it is a good fit for both parties.
While interviewing, realize that in addition to qualifying for the job, the team will be looking for and assessing the candidate’s executive presence. A few tips to keep in mind:
- People will be looking at our clothing. It has been discussed that our attire needs to match the position for which we are interviewing. If you have difficulty finding the right clothing, take a trusted friend to help find clothing to look the part.
- Our shoes matter. Remember that actors receive their shoes first so that they can practice. This is true for us as well. We need shoes that fit the part and we need to wear them prior to the interview so that they feel natural.
- Hands are used for talking and they help us process our thoughts. If you normally use your hands to think and speak, please use them in your interview. The more natural and connected you are to the topic and to the people, the more you are going to present your best self./span>
- Silence is golden! Think about your answer before you begin to speak. This time helps you think of multiple work experiences to share rather than going back to the same experiences. Personally, I appreciate a candidate that gives some silence prior to their answer.
- Because this is a two-way interview, have questions for the interviewer(s) that really matter to you. Think about what you would like to see from this relationship and be able to articulate these questions. It is easy to tell if someone has taken the time to think about this part of the interview.
Trust the universe. There have been times when I thought I wanted a certain job or position to later discover that I was saved a huge headache and a lot of stress. If you are the right candidate for the company, the seat won’t feel so hot and you’ll be happy to help move the company forward with your innovation and support.
