In a résumé-driven world, you could refine your message over time.
In a tryout-driven world?

You are the message!

As Amanda Hoover reports in Business Insider, nearly 70% of employers are shifting to skills-based hiring, moving away from what candidates say on paper to how they perform in real time.

More companies are inviting candidates in to “test drive” the role, to see how you think, how you engage, and how you show up under pressure.

Not over months.  But in moments.

You may be stepping into environments where you don’t know the team, yet you’re expected to build trust, demonstrate your expertise, and contribute almost immediately.

This is where executive presence becomes essential. It’s not about being someone different. It’s about knowing who you are, having the confidence to be your authentic self, while understanding how others experience you.

That requires the discipline to step outside yourself and read the room.

Executive presence isn’t just how you show up. It’s how well you tune into others.

Over time, we grow comfortable and sometimes unaware of how we come across. But in moments that matter most, impressions are formed quickly and they tend to stick.

  

Practice the Platinum Rule – Not the Golden Rule.

The Golden Rule tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated.
But in high-stakes moments, that’s often not enough.

The Platinum Rule raises the bar.
It requires the awareness to understand how others want to be engaged and the agility to meet them there.

If you’re wondering why this is important, it’s because not everyone thinks, communicates, or makes decisions the way you do.

In these real-time interviews, there’s no dress rehearsal.  You don’t have the luxury of doing it over!

Here are some easy tips for being memorable and impactful.

• Read the room—observe body language and tone
• Use names with intention—it signals presence and respect
• Align early on expectations to avoid missteps
• Ask thoughtful “what” and “how” questions to uncover what matters
• Prioritize curiosity over the need to impress
• Listen to understand—not simply to respond
• Follow up with a personal note that reflects genuine appreciation

If you had to interview tomorrow…

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression.

So how are you shaping yours – before it’s formed for you?

How are you setting yourself apart in the value you bring?

What is the experience others have when they engage with you, even in a short time?

And most importantly…
Are the impressions you leave behind building sponsors who want to work with you?

Warm regards,
Roz