Recruiters - what if I can't answer an interview question?

[SunshineNDaisies]

I have an interview tomorrow for a high level position. Looking at the job description its a lot more complex than I thought and I don't think I'll get it although I did get an interview (tomorrow at 9am). I think maybe I got the interview cause of the GIS.

I'm now panicking that they might ask me a high level complex question that I can't answer. What do I say or do if that happens?

I know all about STAR and I've got competency examples all prepared but I'm still nervous. Its a managerial position and I haven't managed before either.

I left my previous job due to bullying and discrimination and this would be my first interview in nearly 18 years so I'm very nervous. My self esteem is shot and I fear entering a similar environment too.

If you do any recruiting or work in HR and someone struggles to answer a question - what would be a good way of saying "I don't know". Obviously I hope that doesn't happen but what if it does? I thought maybe I could say something like "I'm willing to learn" but that could put them right off me.

I sound totally hopeless don't I?

Just do what the rest of us do and spout a load of nonsense

Ive heard saying something like "I'm not sure about that but I would love to know, have you got the time to tell me?" is good. Obviously not for everything!

Remember the SEE technique - Smile, Eye Contact, Enthusiasm.

Have your notes ready and have examples prepared.

If you get blindsided by a hard question, don't be afraid to say "Could I please come back to that question in a minute?"
Gives you thinking time.

Think fast. Talk slowly but concisely.

Good luck!

If it's questions that need STAR as an answer, then hopefully you have some situations already planned out. If you're asked a question that you don't have a ready planned answer for, just use one of your planned scenarios that seems closest. You can always preface by saying something like "this isn't quite an example of xyz but ...". Ideally the interviewer will ask leading questions to help you modify your scenario to actually answer the question.

I would admit that you didn’t know, and then outline the steps that you would take to figure out the answer.

I would hope that they know you haven’t got direct experience and that you wouldn’t be expected to answer technical questions. General principles of management - respect, good communication, how you prioritise and delegate work, how you would approach difficult conversations etc should all be useful building blocks for tricky questions. Also try and think about what they want to know from the question - are they looking for you to demonstrate your knowledge, is the question more about your approach and how it would fit with the organisation, which specific competency are they wanting to know about. If you really don’t know and can’t give even an attempt at an answer, I’d be more than happy for you to say something like “As I’ve never done x, y, z before I wouldn’t want to give you an answer I’d pulled out of thin air (smile). One of the ways I would approach finding out an answer to this is abc and I’m a big believer in constantly learning and developing my skills”

No helpful advice, but remember - if you were an average bloke, you'd hold your head high, smile and be convinced you had it in the bag before you spoke, so fake it til you make it....

But seriously, you can do this. They like you enough to invite to interview.

Is it an online interview?

I don't have direct experience of x but it correlates to Y skill which I have used...give example.

In all interviews, if I think I've given a crap answer I finish with "is that adequate or do you need me to expand on any points I've made?". Then I pray the interviewer will throw me a bone.

I think too many people go into interviews thinking the cards are stacked against them. In reality interviewers are hoping you are the one they want to hire.
If you haven't got the experience, and you sense its required - why not ask them at the outset, what it was that attracted them to your application. This way you can draw out those strengths easily. If they ask you about an area of where you lack experience, dont be shy of saying that you recognise this area is less of a match for your experience but you have confidence, enthusiasm and the aptitude to learn and draw on other strengths to support success in the role. Ask how much they feel it would impact their requirements - would you need certain training, or a buddy with the relevant experience for the short term, or what transferable skills would you be able to utilise to be successful in that area. This way, you focus their attention on how they can help you overcome the lack of experience and not rule you out on that basis.
Hope this helps.

This is also about you interviewing them, you managed to get out of a toxic workplace - you don't want to go into another. If you are asked something and don't know or understand what they want then say. Ideally they will expand and make you feel comfortable to get the best out of you. If they don't, chances are it won't be a supportive workplace and surely it's better to find out at the interview.
Good luck

You could always say something like "I've never been in that situation before but I imagine I would respond in this way.....". If its a term you are not familiar with or something technical, ask them to expand on that point and then answer based on the info they give you.

Thanks so much for these answers.

its an online interview, via Teams. The interview was meant to take place yesterday but Teams crashed. I couldn't get in but they could. So again I worry about the impression I gave. I hate MS teams. I suggested switching to Zoom or Meet, but they refused

I have 3 other interviews for 3 other companies - one of which I would much prefer to get. I'm also nervous about that one though. Apparently I need to say what I can bring to the company and what makes me the better candidate - I don't know who the other candidates even are!

I just really lack confidence. My previous manager said I was overpaid and should be a lower grade. Refused to make adjustments. Had to go through the whole grievance and even tribunal process. My confidence is really low and I worry I'm not good enough.

‘I’m sorry that’s out of my direct experience/knowledge base/I’m not sure I know enough on the specific topic to give you a detailed answer but I can use (xxxx industry standard knowledge base) to identify protocols/legislation/ appropriate action or whatever.

I’ve frequently had to assimilate large amounts of industry specific knowledge like this in previous roles and I’m quite used to it’ etc

Don’t worry about the other candidates, just prepare what your strengths are for that role based on what they’re looking for.

Also have up your sleeve some areas for development, one of the questions we ask is about making mistakes, we like to see people open to admitting to getting things wrong and fixing it rather than being perfect and hiding things. Not saying that all interviewers want this but learning from failure is positive in my eyes. And don’t want you to be blindsided.

If you are being asked competency questions, then you shouldn’t need to say I don’t know but if it’s a more technical question, then I suppose you could say what aras mentions above I don't have direct experience of x but it correlates to Y skill which I have used...give example.

I’m always impressed with people that have researched the company and use that in saying why they wanted to apply for the role.

Good luck!

I also need to give a presentation tomorrow of just 5 minutes. I guess I'm a bit worried about the questions on my presentation such as "how would this apply to x situation in our workplace"

5 mins will be very hard to stick to!

People want to hire people.

You're a human, not a machine. It's ok not to know answers. If you don't understand the question it's ok to say, I'm sorry I'm a bit nervous - would you mind explaining x to me? It's ok not to understand how their business works - you've not worked there before, how would you? And it's ok to admit that.

Good luck!

Be honest. The interviewer will find it refreshing. If asked a question you don't know answer to say something like I have not been in that situation before, but I love learning new things, so if I was unsure I would ask an experienced colleague for advise rather than ploughing on and spending a lot of time getting it wrong. I am happy to ask if I am not sure, but I pick new things up really quickly. A huge smile. Hold your head up. Don't look scared or flummoxed.

Two of the answers to my last interview were ‘I don’t know’ and I still got the job 😂

Don't over run your presentation - interviewers hate that.

If it's a technical question you can't answer, explain you don't know but give an example of how you would look into solving it e.g. how would you research/who would you consult if the issue arises.

I think maybe I got the interview cause of the GIS.

What's GIS ?

Definitely stick to the presentation time - put an alert on your phone for a 15 second warning. In terms of answering questions, think about different timescales- so the answer might be if x scenario came up immediately then you would identify who on the team could best assist/call in an external but mid/long term then you would have reduced the risk and would have revised current practice etc. If you really dont know then an answer such as "I have differing experience then that but would be able to draw on my problem solving skills to address...etc" Hope it goes well

In a couple of (successful) interviews I've asked for questions to be rephrased. It gives a bit of thinking time and often whey they use different words to ask the question it triggers my memory for a good example.

GIS is guaranteed interview scheme (for disabled people - I'm disabled).

Cannot sleep for nerves. Up early

No, no, no. Do not start on a negative spiral. You got the interview because they think you might be a good fit for the role. It's not about you being disabled. Companies don't interview unsuitable applicants just because they have a disability.

I used to recruit and it is extremely.rare that a candidate will have all the experience that is listed in the job advert/description. It's expected that you get people applying who tick some boxes and then you interview them to find out if they could pick up the other stuff in future.