Interviews are not just about a candidate’s professional suitability, but also about their personality and problem-solving abilities. An often overlooked, yet revealing test is the “Wobble Test,” where the candidate sits on a wobbly chair. The reaction to this small inconvenience is observed and assessed.
What is this test? The “Wobble Test” can be used in an interview to assess a candidate’s reaction to an unpleasant situation. This method is unobtrusive, yet informative and is based on psychological studies, similar to the water glass test (via arbeits-abc.de). The goal of the test is to find out how well the candidate handles small challenges and how they react to a disturbing situation.
How is it carried out? During the conversation, the candidate is placed on a chair that is intentionally wobbly. The interviewer observes how the candidate reacts. Next to the wobbly chair, there is usually also a stable chair nearby. This is meant to see if the candidate continues the conversation or asks for another chair. Special attention is paid to how the candidate deals with the situation.
The reactions and how they are evaluated
1. Stay calm and continue: Those who are not distracted by the inconvenience of the wobbly chair and continue the conversation demonstrate high resilience. The ability to remain focused suggests good concentration skills.
This reaction can be rated positively, as it reflects the ability to remain calm in uncomfortable moments and focus on what matters.
2. Change seats or ask for help: It is also possible to address the wobbly chair and ask for a more stable model.
This active response can be seen as solution-oriented and thus positive. In this case, the candidate shows that they are willing to address problems and seek solutions. The manner in which the chair is addressed is also observed: politely and respectfully or rather demanding and impatient.
3. Complain without seeking a solution: Another option is to mention the wobbly chair without doing anything about it. Those who focus on the problem of the chair without looking for a solution may be perceived as passive or inflexible.
This reaction may indicate that the candidate has difficulties concentrating or addressing problems. Even though the reaction is not necessarily negative, it is generally not rated as highly.
No matter how you would handle such a situation. Whether in a job interview or in daily life, it is often the small, unexpected challenges that truly test us. Bill Gates explains how you can respond to one of the toughest questions in a job interview while remaining authentic.
