6 things to do when you don’t know what to say at a job interview

Research the company. Iron your clothes. Come up with questions.

If you’ve ever Googled “How to prepare for a job interview,” then you already know that getting one means at least ticking those boxes.

But I’ll admit, for all the hours of interview preparation in the world, sometimes you get a question that makes you sweat.

“What’s the biggest criticism you’ve received from previous employers?”

“What mistake did you make at your last job and how could you have handled it better?”

“What does a meaningful career look like to you?”

As the hiring manager looks at you with raised eyebrows, your mind goes blank. You have one thought and one thought only: “I don’t remember putting on antiperspirant this morning…”

Maybe this sounds like an all-too-familiar situation, or maybe it doesn’t. But go on enough job interviews and I promise you one thing: you’ll end up sitting across from a hiring manager who throws you a curveball you can’t take back.

Of course, it’s much easier to ignore the possibility of this altogether (sounds tempting, right?). But just like ironing your clothes, figuring out what to say when you don’t know what to say at all is a necessary step if you want to finish the interview process with a job offer in hand. Here are six steps you can take to form an answer to any question asked during a job interview.

Step 1: Stop worrying.

A successful job interview depends more on your energy than your words. Even with a perfect answer, bad energy kills the mood. Reducing your anxiety during a job interview is easier said than done—especially since job interviews aren’t the ideal time for long, deep breaths and meditation.

However, take a moment to challenge your negative thinking. Consider books like Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth and that of Byron Katie To love what is. Remind yourself that a poor interview response won’t necessarily eliminate you from the running. You are human, so give yourself permission to be one.

Employers deliberately ask job applicants difficult questions. Filling a new position costs companies an average of $4,129, so employers want to make sure they’re hiring the right candidate. But it’s good for you, too—difficult job interviews are statistically associated with greater employee satisfaction once the job is accepted. Get through the difficult questions of employers and you will be rewarded for it later.

Still feeling anxious? While I’m not much of a “fake it till you make it” concept, there is something to be said for mustering up confidence in important situations.

Research shows that almost 40% of employers reject candidates because of the quality of their voice and a general lack of confidence. If you don’t have a question ready in your back pocket, the best thing you can do is minimize your fear and move forward with confidence. You have to answer the question anyway, so you might as well do it without looking scared.

Step 2: Take a moment to pause.

A strong response doesn’t have to be quick. Don’t mince words until you answer. It’s to be expected that a good interviewer will ask you a question or two that you don’t expect coming, and it’s perfectly reasonable to take a few minutes to think about your answer when they do. In fact, taking a moment to think about your answer shows the employer that you are introspective.

If a quick pause isn’t enough, signal to the hiring manager that you’re still considering the question by saying something like, “That’s a great question. Do you mind giving me a moment to think about it more?”

Odds are, the recruiter will be more than willing to give you the time you need to gather your thoughts. Have a notebook handy, start writing, and don’t be afraid to ask the recruiter to repeat the question. In some cases, they may even suggest that you move on to the next question so that you have time to develop your answer by the end of the interview.

Step 3: Think out loud and proceed with caution

It usually only takes a few seconds for the answer to start forming in your head. Think about it for a few extra minutes to make sure it’s appropriate and relevant to the question being asked. Then extract the key points or lessons you want to emphasize and weave them into a response.

Some people may find it easier to think out loud. Done right, verbalizing how you arrive at your answer can showcase your creativity and problem-solving skills to the hiring manager.

That being said, be sure to proceed with caution if you have difficulty predicting where a thought is headed. You don’t want to go off on a tangent, and you also don’t want to project an unflattering image of yourself. Speaking slowly and deliberately will buy you more time to think and refine your answer.

Step 4: Answer with honesty and authenticity.

The formulas used to answer interview questions usually don’t help when you’re thrown a curveball that leaves you stumped. It’s hard enough to figure out how to come up with an answer when you’re confused, let alone organize it neatly using the STAR method.

On a more positive note, making room for your authentic and messy thinking can actually serve you well. A survey of 200 talent acquisition professionals reported that in addition to their confidence, hiring managers value candidates’ authenticity and honesty the most. Don’t try to impress the hiring manager with a perfect answer (there are no such things, after all). Instead, show your ability to be vulnerable by tackling a tough question on the spot.

Mustering an authentic and impromptu response relies on more than basic interview preparation. When you’re given a daunting and abstract question like “What do you hope to accomplish in your lifetime?” you have to rely on more than what you’ve learned from reading the about page on the company’s website.

Instead, think about how you can work the self-awareness and insight you already have into your response. Deciding what career path to pursue has already required you to think about your goals and motivations. Weaving this background information into your answers where appropriate not only shows your authenticity, but shows the employer that you see your work as more meaningful than a paycheck.

Step 5: Develop your growth mindset

In the same survey of 200 talent acquisition professionals, 72% said they consider a candidate’s arrogance to be their biggest personality trait.

If you don’t know how to answer a domain-specific question, it’s okay to admit that you don’t. But don’t stop there — convey your growth mindset to employers by explaining your willingness to learn and improve new skills. While you may not yet have all the hard skills a company is looking for, describing your interest in the field and openness to feedback tells employers that you have the drive to grow within the company.

Step 6: Emphasize your desire to grow within the company

Conveying a growth mindset is good, but you should also emphasize that you’re particularly interested in improving your skills at the particular company you’re interviewing for. This is the time to disseminate the information you gathered from researching the company during your interview preparation. Be open to discussing your personal connection to the company. How do their core values ​​resonate with you? Have they done recent projects that interest you? If the hiring manager hasn’t already asked you, address your motivation for applying for the job.

Above all, hiring managers want to know that their employers are committed to the company and invested in their work. Most job-specific tasks can be taught or picked up during the onboarding process.

… But as for the motivation to excel, only the employee can bring it.