Have you ever been in a job interview and asked a question you didn’t know how to respond to? It can be an embarrassing and awkward situation. As the candidate, you want to have all the right answers for the hiring manager who’s interviewing you. But when you don’t, what should you do? Here’s some advice to help you:

When You Can’t Answer a Behavioral Based Interview Question

Behavioral based interview questions are simply those that ask you to give an example; for instance, “explain a time when you handled a conflict with a customer.” As one of Houston’s leading job placement agencies, Murray Resources knows the purpose is to get away from the “what-if” scenarios in an interview and talk about real world situations. Employers want to know how you handle conflict, communicate with others, and deal with change. These kinds of questions help them delve deeper into how you respond and operate – so they can understand how you might perform in the future.

Behavioral questions should be easy to answer when you have a specific example. But if you don’t, then just be truthful. It’s ok to say something along the lines of:

“Honestly, I can’t think of a time when that happened. I haven’t encountered a situation like that in the workplace. I can tell you how I would approach it if I had, though.”

When You Can’t Answer a More Traditional Interview Question

When you can’t answer a behavior based question it’s because you’ve never faced a certain situation before. But what about when you’re asked a more traditional interview question – and you’re stumped? Here are some tips to help you handle the situation:

Take a deep breath and calm down.

Getting asked a question you don’t know the answer to can make you look like a deer caught in headlights. But don’t let your nervousness get the best of you. Otherwise, you won’t be able to think clearly and work through an answer in your head.

Ask a follow up question.

The reason you don’t know how to answer may be that the hiring manager didn’t ask a clear question to start with. So follow up with your own question to ensure you fully understand what they’re asking you. It’s better to ask for clarification then try to make something up.

Explain what you do know.

If there’s a part of the question you do have a good answer to, then start there. You might be able to work through the rest of the answer as you’re talking.

Be honest.

Don’t fake your interview answer. A hiring manager will be able to see right through it. So if you can’t come up with an articulate answer, then be honest. Tell them:

“That’s a great question, but I don’t know the answer off the top of my head. Can I follow up with you on that after the interview?”

Remember too, it’s not always the details of an actual response a hiring manager is interested in. They want to know how you think on your feet and respond under pressure. And when you follow the tips above and you’ll be able to handle any interview question that comes your way.

Need more help with resumes, interviews, and finding a new job in Houston? Call Murray Resources. As one of Houston’s leading job placement agencies, we work with employers all over the city to fill positions in a variety of fields on a contract and full-time basis. If you’re ready to put our expertise to work for you, contact us today.