Use these tricks when you are stuck on a job interview
There are many nightmare scenarios when it comes to job interviews. For example, you could show up late or poorly dressed. You could have forgotten to bring an extra copy of your CV. Even worse, you could completely blank on the interviewers’ names. While any of these would be certainly embarrassing and unfavorable, they pale in comparison to the ultimate worst case scenario.
Imagine this for a moment. The interview has been going on for some time and as far as you’re concerned, it is going well. Some of the nervousness you felt at the start of the interview begins to ebb and you feel confident with the way it’s going. Suddenly, the interviewer brings that train of thought to a roaring halt by asking an interview question... that causes you to freeze on the spot.
That is, full-on, white noise and static clouding your brain, frozen. This is definitely a tense, anxiety-inducing situation. But, most professionals will have been in that situation more often than they would like to admit. Of course, the ideal is the vision of walking into an interview suave, dressed to the nines, confident and prepared to answer whatever questions the interviewer has. While that is the goal, the arrow sometimes just misses the mark. Even if you have thoroughly researched the company and prepared a set of answers for the most frequently asked questions, there is always the possibility that an unexpected question will catch you off guard.
Don’t get knocked off your feet. Take a deep breath. With these five, fail-proof tricks, Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job site, will show you exactly how to escape this kind of situation.
1. Take your time answering
Taking your time does not suggest you should allow yourself to succumb to a long, awkward pause. Additionally, you should do your best not to let a single, ‘Um’, ‘Uh’, or anything similar pass through your lips. What it really means is that you should take a moment to process the question. Stall for time by saying something along the lines of, ‘Wow, that’s a good question! Let me just get my thoughts together.’ This will show that you are giving the question the proper consideration and will give you a minute or two to come up with a good answer.
2. Ask for some clarification
This might either seem obvious or hard to believe, but it is absolutely fine to ask your interviewer questions. An interview, unlike an interrogation, is a two-way conversation. If you don’t understand the question, or simply don’t know if you have understood it correctly, ask for further clarification. Just ask and say that you want to provide the best possible answer. Make sure you smile and be sincere. Remember, the interviewer has probably interviewed many people before, and you will not be the first person they have come across who needed further details before answering.
3. Come back to the question later
If you are completely thrown off by the question and find yourself absolutely incapable of coming up with an answer, you can also try the tactic of asking the interviewer to ask you another question in the meanwhile. Let them know that you would prefer to come back to this question later on in the interview. This will give your brain time to work on an answer as you go through some other questions.
4. Change the subject
Just to be clear, do not, for any reason, avoid the question altogether as that is a bad idea. Instead, try to redirect the interviewing process briefly and mention something the question reminds you of. For instance, a situation in a previous job or when handling a previous project that is relevant to the topic of the question. Throw in an anecdote about how you solved the problem or made a good decision in the past. Ensure, however, that you are not digressing too far from the question.
5. Throw in some humor
Building rapport with your interviewer is essential. Neither one of you would enjoy sitting through a stiff and awkward exchange that lasts anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. In addition, if you and your interviewer are enjoying a nice, pleasant conversation, there is a chance that they will not immediately notice you are struggling with a particular interview question. Have a sense of humor about it and say something along the lines of, “I was so excited about the interview and the job that my brain can’t seem to catch up.” Then laugh a little and see how the interviewer responds. At best, the interviewer will laugh and reassure you, and at worst? You bought yourself a few extra minutes.
Remember, a combination of preparation and research is the keystone of any successful job interview. However, even the best, most experienced and most prepared job seekers can get caught off guard every once in a while. Stay positive and try your best. Still looking for a job? No responses on your applications yet? Don’t get complacent and keep your rhythm by applying to any of the 10,000+ jobs available on Bayt.com on any given day.