As a leading staffing agency in Houston, TX, Murray Resources understands that job interviews are stressful enough, even when you’re well prepared. But what happens when you’re asked a question that you’re not prepared for – and that you don’t know the answer to?

Rather than having a panic attack or making like a deer in headlights, there are some steps you can take to turn a negative into a positive:

Take a Deep Breath.

First, take a deep breath inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. It’s okay if you need to take a moment to get your thoughts together. Remember, just because you lack the right answer for a certain interview question doesn’t mean you’re not a great fit for the job.

Keep in mind, though, it’s important to not come across as nervous or anxious in these kinds of situations…even if you aren’t quite sure what to say right away.

Be Honest.

Don’t try to navigate your way through a topic that you have no knowledge of; you’ll come across as dishonest and ill-prepared. It’s much better to honestly admit you lack expertise in a certain area than to attempt to say what you think the interviewer wants to hear – especially when you don’t really know what you’re talking about.

Don’t Apologize.

That said, don’t take your admission too far. In other words, don’t apologize or make excuses for the fact that you lack knowledge or experience in a certain area. If you do, you’ll simply highlight your deficiency in the mind of the interviewer.

Appear Confident.

Simply state matter-of-factly that you haven’t had the opportunity to gain experience in a certain area, but that you’re eager to learn about it should you win the job. Even better, provide an example of a skill that you didn’t have before accepting your last job, but you were able to acquire through hard work and a willingness to learn.

If you can keep your composure in a job interview, even when you don’t know the answer, you’ll score big points with the interviewer. You’ll demonstrate that you can stay calm under pressure and think on your feet – two traits that are important for almost any job.

Need More Job Interview Help?

As a leading staffing agency in Houston, TX, Murray Resources can offer you additional guidance with crafting your resume, prepping for interviews, and finding job opportunities that are a great fit for you! Contact Murray Resources to get started.