Don’t Know the Answer? Don’t Panic.

by Feb 26, 2018

You’re interviewing for a job, and all of the sudden the unthinkable happens. Despite all of your hard work and preparation, the hiring manager throws you for a loop and asks a question you don’t know the answer to. Suddenly the interview you thought was going so well has come to a hard stop.

Uh oh.

So what is there to do? There’s nothing you can do to change the fact that you don’t know the answer, at least not in this moment. But you don’t want to just say “I don’t know” either.

Be honest and tell them how you would find out the answer.

Erin Berkery-Rovner

In her article about this very situation, Berkery-Rovner has a few suggestions on how to do just this. She gives a step-by-step process to get your mind back in the game, and give a decent answer to the hiring manager as well.

Berkery-Rover suggests taking the following four steps:

  1. Make sure you understand what they’re saying. Repeat it back.
  2. Talk through the options
  3. Pitch a solution
  4. Bring it all back to your strengths

Hiring managers aren’t just asking to see if you “know” the answer- they’re also testing to see if your critical thinking and problem solving skills are sharp enough to figure it out in the moment. Using this step-by-step process will show the hiring manager that even if you’re presented with a problem you don’t know the answer to, you have the know-how to think your way through it.

 

Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.

The Joys of Having a Pet

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo When COVID-19 hit in 2020, people all around the United States felt scared, confused, and isolated. Individuals had to stay indoors all the time, missing out on many experiences such as making new friends, celebrating milestones, and other...

The Best Benefits of Working

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Nowadays, pursuing a career can be tiresome, anxiety-inducing, and stressful. You may lose focus of the brighter side which comes from all the benefits of landing a job.  They include financial freedom, a new purpose in your life, and...

Business Manners in the Workplace

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Business Etiquette is a practical and fundamental skill everyone should use while working on a job. Exercising this practice will help advance your career and boost your likability amongst colleagues and employers alike. The best path to...

Using a College Graduate’s Habits Key to Virtual Work Success

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Imagine, you have just been hired for your first remote job and your team leader has given you a mountain of work which you’re not sure you will ever be able to complete. The tasks seem daunting and although you feel you’ve been at it all day,...

Flexibility is the Key to Workplace Greatness

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo If you are trying to advance your career, being flexible is the key to success. This concept certainly applies when you are working in a new contract position. During this time, you’ll wear many hats and juggle ever-changing conditions that...

Tips to Use Your Time Wisely to Successfully Land a Job

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Job hunting has become so much easier since the days when you had to look at a newspaper daily to see who was hiring. Now, there are staffing firms like Contemporaries, Inc., and websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and GlassDoor to help you...

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Gen Z is the newest and largest group of job hunters that are currently in the market. They are recent graduates, hungry for new opportunities, and want to change the typical nine to five job blueprint. Here are the Top Five Requirements of...

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace

Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro who has been in the workforce for years, why not try incorporating the power of positivity into your daily routine? It won’t take much effort on your part, but will set a better tone for the day. While you...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!