What to Do When You Dont Know How to Answer a Job Interview Question

What to Do When You Dont Know How to Answer a Job Interview QuestionWhat to Do When You Dont Know How to Answer a Job Interview QuestionThe scenario sounds like something out of your worst job search nightmare. The hiring manager looks at you, poses a questionand you have no idea how to answer it.Obviously, though, youve got to say something. So take a deep breath to compose yourself and deliver some much-needed oxygen to the brain. Then, quickly assess why youre having difficulty with the question. The tips below can help you figure out your next move.What to Do When You Really Dont Know How to Answer a Job Interview QuestionAsk to have the question rephrased.When the question doesnt make sense to you, or is oddly worded, see if you can get the bewerberinterviewer to rephrase it. Different language may shed greater light on what theyre asking and enable you to respond intelligently.As a candidate, its perfectly fine to clarify the question and much better than guessing what the inte rviewer is looking for, says Mikaela Kiner, CEO and founder ofuniquelyHR. Phrases like I want to make sure Im answering accurately. Would you mind repeating the question? or I think what youre asking is . . . . Is that correct? work well in this situation.Figure out what the interviewer really wants to know.Interviewers should be well aware that they arent supposed to ask inappropriate or illegal interview questions, such as about a candidates marital status or age, but sometimes these issues do come up. Simply stating that youre not comfortable answering is one route to take hopefully, the person will realize they crossed the line and move on to a different subject. Another option is to figure out what the interviewer really wants to know and respond to that concern.Try to assume good intentions, Kiner says. For example, if an interviewer asks whether you take your kids to and from school, they probably want to know ifyou can work the hours required for the job. An answer like I un derstand the hours for this role are from 9-5, and Im completely available during those hours should work.Think of a positive spin.Candidates know that presenting themselves in the best possible light is crucial in an interview. It follows, then, that a question to which you know the truthful answer is less than stellar can cause panic.Lies have a way of coming back to haunt, so give an honest response- but quickly steer the conversation back to something positive. For instance, if asked Why did you leave your job at Company X? and the reason is that you were fired, try something like, I was let go, but I learned a lot from the experience. Ive really worked on improving my commitment to not missing deadlines by reading books on time management, breaking big projects into chunks, and constructing a daily to-do list that keeps me on track.As Kiner notes, Honesty and self-awareness go a long way in an interview. Nobody is perfect, and the best companies wont shy away from hiring someon e who is humble enough to admit mistakes and demonstrates that they have learned from those mistakes.Know someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free service and theyll get 30% off