Four Ways to Answer Interview Questions You Don’t Know How to Answer
Preparing for an interview is a serious business. But even if you practice, practice, and practice, you can still get a question that you just don’t know how to answer. Whether it’s a technical question about something you’ve never heard of before, or just something completely unexpected, a question that baffles you can really slow down the pace of a conversation and leave you a little overwhelmed.
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
So what to do when you are asked interview questions that you don’t know how to answer? Try one of these painless approaches.
1. Take your time
First things first: acknowledge that the question was asked and what you think about it. Something as simple as, “Hmm… that’s a great question. Let me think about it, ”will suffice as you will take some time to think about your first thoughts on how to approach the question.
This is important to remember, especially since filling any empty airspace with words is natural to avoid awkward silence. Take some time to collect your thoughts and make sure you don’t blurt out anything that suggests that you are … well, completely stumped.
2. Think out loud
Remember that half the time hiring managers ask tough questions, not to hear you give the right answer right away, but to better understand how you think about problems . So, after you’ve taken a minute to collect your thoughts, try to briefly explain what your thoughts were and move on.
For example, if you are asked something like, “Tell me about your copying process for long articles,” and you don’t actually have a process (yet), it is a good approach to pretend that you are editing this article. and share your steps out loud. Add transitional adverbs such as first, then, and finally to give your answer some structure. You can also end with a clarifying statement that “the process varies depending on the situation,” which shows your flexibility, even if your answer is different from what a hiring manager would do.
3. Redirect
If you’re asked a question that you really can’t handle, confess and try redirecting to an area you’re familiar with. You may not be able to speak directly to a specific skill, but if you can associate it with similar skills, you will be much better off than just saying that you don’t have the skill they are looking for.
For example, let’s say you’ve applied for a position that requires experience in social media marketing and you’re asked about your experience in this type of marketing. If you just don’t have one , try redirecting the answer to something you have experience with. In that case, you could go to your experience of community management on social media or print marketing and say, “This is one of the reasons I am so excited about this position. I have extensive experience in social media community management from my previous position, as well as experience in print marketing in my professional organization. I think I am very well positioned to combine these two skills into the necessary social media marketing for your product, especially with your company focused on community building. ”
4. Ensure safety
Of course, you might end up with a question that no amount of delays, thinking aloud or redirecting will help. Questions that require definitions or understanding of concepts that you do not know cannot simply be worked out on the spot. To answer these questions, base your research on the company and industry in which the position is located.
Let’s say you are applying for a job in M&A in finance and you are asked, “What is working capital?” – and you really just have no idea. Be prepared to provide a reliable answer that focuses on your enthusiasm for the position and knowledge of the industry. Something like, “I’m not familiar with this concept yet, but finance is something I really care about and I’m actively trying to learn more. I have followed the deals and read about some of them in which your company was involved. I also learned a lot about the industries you consult. I think that the consolidation that is happening in the automotive industry will create many interesting opportunities in the future, and it will be an opportunity to learn a lot about the business of mergers and acquisitions. “
Above all, learn from all of your interviewing experiences. And remember, no matter what question you get, think about what the hiring manager is actually trying to get out of the question. You may not be able to answer the question asked, but if you can figure out what the hiring manager is really trying to find out with this question and calm his or her concerns, then you have done well already.
4 Ways To Answer Interview Questions You Don’t Know How To Answer | Muse