7 Techniques For How To Answer Job Interview Questions That Stump You.

You've studied the relevant interview questions and developed thoughtful answers. You're practiced and prepped. But when you walk in the door and sit down for your interview, your asked a question that you are not ready for. Here are techniques for how to answer job interview questions that stump you

Remain calm. You can work this out. You just need time to think. The question is, while that interviewer is starting at you from across table, how do you get the critical time to formulate an effective answer?

Below, I've provided you with 7 techniques you different techniques can use in this situation. These techniques can be used together to give yourself more time. I recommend starting with the first technique and moving on to the next one on the list should you find you need more time than the current technique allows.

  1. Pause and breathe. You may just need a few moments to think about the question the interviewer gave you. Though potentially intimidating, a little bit of silence won't hurt you.
  2. Repeat the question back to the interview or ask the interviewer to repeat the question. Just saying the words aloud or hearing the question a second time can help you process the question. Plus the repetition likely won't use all your brain power, so you've given yourself some additional time to think.
  3. Say, "That's a good question. Let me just take a few moment to collect my thoughts." Then pause, take a deep breath and work it through. The interviewer will appreciate your thoughtfulness, rather than wandering through response filled with verbal junk, (e.g. "ums" or "likes"). This pause can be lengthy, but if you realize that you are generally confused about the question, move on to the next technique.
  4. Ask for clarification. Repeat the question back in a different structure, by breaking it into a couple of shorter statements, replacing jargon with simpler words, or just changing the order to something that makes more sense to you. "So put another way, what you're asking is…" or "I'm not exactly sure what you meant by your question, would you mind rephrasing it or giving me a bit more clarification."
  5. Try to talk it out. Start with what you think you know should be part of the response. Then slowly work towards the core answer. When you feel like, you've wrapped up, you can ask the interviewer whether you have addressed the question in its entirety or if there are some specific points which he or she would like you to elaborate on further.
  6. Ask to come back to it later. This may fluster your interviewer a bit, but if you're stuck, you're stuck. "Would it be alright if we came back to this question later on. I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment."
  7. Take it home for homework, if all else fails. Demonstrate that even when you hit a roadblock you don't give up. "This question has really stumped me. May I have your card and follow up with you later today via an email." Then be sure to keep your word and follow up with a well thought out response.