
The 2-Minute Rule in Interviews & Assessments
The 2-Minute Rule in Interviews & Assessments

ICF PCC Executive & Career Coach
Assessors form their judgment within the first two minutes. Avoid the warm-up trap and master your opening.
menu_bookWhat You Will Learn
There is no warm-up round
Many candidates assume they can ease into an exercise and warm up over time. However, 2024 research reveals that impressions formed in the first 2 minutes closely mirror end-of-exercise evaluations and real workplace performance.
Turn confirmation bias into your advantage
An assessor frames a hypothesis in the first 120 seconds and spends the next 45 minutes verifying it. Your posture, tone, and opening sentence establish the tone for the entire session.
Never leave your opening to chance
Reading cases on paper is not enough. Record your first two minutes on camera, listen back, and ensure you deliver an immediate executive hook.
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