Have you ever been asked a question in a job interview that
you couldn't answer? Do not despair; it happens with all professionals of all
levels; We may think the question is easy, but we are entirely silent if asked.
So, when you come across the same situation, don't worry and don't panic!
Here are the tried and tested ways to answer any question in
a job interview without looking bad and staying true to your answer.
There are many situations in which a candidate can't answer
a job interview question, but that doesn't mean the candidate is entirely out
of ideas. These situations include:
- The candidate has no answer
to the question and does not want to fake one.
- The candidate wants to give
an honest answer but realizes it may be inadequate.
- The candidate does have an
answer but feels a better one available.
There are also some situations when candidates don't know
how to answer a question and, therefore, they may fake it or change the topic
altogether:
- The candidate has no idea
what the interviewer is asking because the interviewer's terminology is
confusing.
- The candidate doesn't
understand why they're being asked the question or what's expected of them in
response (this can happen in both technical and behavioral questions).
- The candidate realizes that
their answer would be inappropriate in this situation (for example, they may
want to bring up a personal issue, but it would be unprofessional).
You Can't Answer Any Interview Question, Here's How You Could Respond
Ask if the recruiter can clarify the question
Interview questions often have multiple layers of meaning. Even
if you think you understand what the recruiter is asking, there are always
implicit goals behind the question that you never thought of.
The person asking the question here is the recruiter, and he
undoubtedly knows precisely what he would like to find out about in your
answer.
On the other hand, some recruiters have to ask complex
technical questions or very personal questions in job interviews - which directs
the entire hiring process – so they ask these kinds of questions at the
beginning of the job interview so that you are not surprised later.
So, either way, don't be afraid to ask for clarification!
This shows that you are proactive and willing to follow
through with the interview.
Recruiters are always happy when the candidate shows
interest, and they always have great ways to explain and keep the conversation
going.
Ask for an example of a similar situation
It happens to the best of us: You're in a job interview, and
the employer asks you a question you have no idea how to answer.
It is perfectly appropriate to ask for an example of a
problem that requires this kind of answer in these situations.
For example, if you are asked to:
Interviewer: "Tell me when you've had to deal with an
angry client."
Candidate: "Give me an example of a situation where a
person would be angry."
Interviewer: "Okay, let's say the customer calls you and is upset about the delay in sending his package. He says he needs it by tomorrow or he will lose his job. What are you going to do?"
In this case, the candidate will understand what the interviewer is looking for - he or she would like to know how the candidate would deal with an angry client. By simply giving an example of a situation where someone was angry, it is easier for the candidate to answer the question professionally.
Don't Miss:
Explain what you're thinking out loud
When you are asked a difficult question, and you don't have
an answer to it, say everything you think out loud because keeping your
thoughts secret always makes you more anxious.
Just come up with every thought that comes to mind, and you
can use responses like: "I wonder if I'm answering this question correctly,"
"I'm trying to think of examples I can use," or "I want to make
sure I'm specific enough."
Think out loud! This helps the recruiter know that you
understand their question and are trying to find the best response for them. It
also gives him a chance to step in if he wants to clarify something or add more
information.
Avoid long pauses, or You are not sure, statements
Long pauses and words of "uncertainty" show an
employee's lack of self-confidence and make the recruiter hesitant when deciding
to hire the candidate.
Alternatively, the candidate can rephrase the question and provide
the answer as accurately as possible, highlighting strengths and what will add
value to the organization.
Ask to return to the question later
Deferring or asking to return to the question later is helpful
in cases where answering complex questions that require more time to formulate
the best answer.
You could say something like, "I'm not sure if I can
give you an exact answer at this time, but I'd be happy to come back to it
later."
The recruiter always welcomes this by showing how keen you
are to find the best answer.
Talk about your related skills and experiences
When you can't answer an interview question, don't panic.
Instead, use the opportunity to talk about related skills and experiences that
will impress your interviewer.
"What are your greatest strengths?" is a common
interview question. But if you're stuck and can't think of anything relevant to
say, don't worry. There's still plenty you can do to convey why you'd be an
asset to the company.
There's a straightforward approach: give an example of when
something similar happened at work or school and how you dealt with it.
And another unstraightforward way to keep an interview going
is to ask a few questions of your own. You could ask their priorities for the
position or what challenges they anticipate in the coming year. This gives you
a chance to talk about how your experience relates to the role and how it's
prepared you to handle similar challenges in the past (without having to list
all of your previous jobs). It also makes you appear interested in not just
taking this job but making it work for both you and the company.
Tell them how you'd approach the problem
The recruiter is trying to gauge whether you have the skills
they're looking for and whether you're even capable of doing the job.
When you can't answer an interview question, it's common to
feel flustered and say the first thing that comes to mind. But when you don't
know the answer, explain how you'd go about solving it, even if you haven't
solved it before.
Saying, "I'd look at other companies' solutions,"
indicates you're willing to research a problem and adapt your skills to solve
it—which is precisely what they want.
And whether you've answered the question or not, showing
confidence in your skills is never wrong.
Ask if the interviewer has a suggestion he would make if he
were in your position
When you can't answer the interviewer's question, you
shouldn't sit silently with a blank stare, hoping they'll read your thoughts.
Instead, ask if he
has any suggestions he would make if he were in your situation.
This shows the
employer that you care about their opinion and are open to all possibilities.
It also allows them
to share ideas about what they want to see in the candidate and how they
approach problems.
This gives you a better understanding of the question and a
more comprehensive answer formulation.
Ask follow-up questions to guide the conversation toward
an area of strength or interest for you
There is no better way to avoid feeling lost than direct the
conversation toward something easy and familiar.
If you can't think of anything to say right away, a good tactic
is to ask the person who asked you a follow-up question.
You can direct the
conversation toward your area of strength or interest.
In other words, if the recruiter asks you: Tell me about a
situation in which you dealt with an annoying co-worker! you can ask some
follow-up questions such as: What is the definition of an annoying person in
your view? Then you begin to say your answer by listing your exceptional soft
skills that facilitate dealing with all the characters and mention how your
flexibility allows you to act in all situations.
Be honest and upfront while staying positive
You might be surprised at how well this can go over. If
you're trying to hide something from the interviewer or if you're not willing
to take a risk, it will come across in your body language and tone of voice. If
you're honest about your lack of knowledge on the topic, however, it's likely
that the interviewer will appreciate your honesty and may even ask another
question to get some more information out of you.
Here are some examples of how to handle these situations:
- "I'm sorry, but I don't know much about that."
- "I haven't worked with anything like that before. What would be involved?"
Finally,
It's okay if you can't answer any questions in a job interview. We all have gaps in our professional experience and have to look for ways to get through them smoothly and professionally.
So, prepare well for the interview, boost your self-confidence, and treat the situation as a regular thing.
And always remember! A recruiter is an ordinary person like you, and he may sometimes ask questions he doesn't know the answers to. All you have to do is learn how to "persuade" him and sharpen the skills of "selling" your expertise.