Stuck in a Job Interview? Here’s What to Say

Don’t be ambiguous or believe you can get away with lying.

You may prepare as much as you want for a job interview, but there will often still be given an unexpected question that may leave you baffled. How you respond might reveal a lot about your ability to handle queries from stakeholders or clients under pressure, so keep your cool and follow our tips below.

Here’s how to still impress an interviewer when you’re unsure of how to respond to a question… and what to avoid!

1. Don’t lie under any circumstances.

If you can’t answer a question with personal experience, make a comparison and say something like, “I haven’t been put in that particular position precisely, but here’s how I believe I would manage it.”

The most common misstep is when candidates seek to deceive rather than admitting what they don’t know. If you get entangled in a web of lies, it can be hard to get out of and won’t be a good start to your working relationship.

2. Don’t ramble and hope for the best. If you’re not sure what they’re asking, ask for clarification.

When a jobseeker doesn’t know what to say, the worst thing they can do is ramble.

You should keep in mind that you may be interviewing with a Director or a Manager who are not qualified interviewers, therefore it is advisable to ask for clarification when necessary. They may not have conveyed the question clearly enough.

Of course, everyone gets nervous in interviews – so if you do ramble – recognise it and move on. 

3. Don’t quit and just respond, “I don’t know.”

Beyond fundamental requirements, forward-thinking organisations understand that you won’t have all the answers. It’s OK to state you haven’t yet gained a certain skill or confronted a specific challenge.

Advocate for yourself and explain what you can accomplish, and they may be willing to be flexible about the position responsibilities. The goal is to demonstrate why you are the greatest candidate for the position by connecting your previous experiences and talents to what the work demands, as well as how you can provide value to them.

Don’t forget that they, too, are in the hot seat. You are interviewing an organisation just as much as they are interviewing you, and an interview can tell you a lot about your working relationship moving forward. 

Lawson Delaney is a leading executive search and professional recruitment firm based in Melbourne. We specialise in recruiting CEOs and leadership teams, and accountants of all seniorities for Accounting firms. Contact us on 03 9946 7300 or support@lawsondelaney.com.au to learn more about how we can assist you with a vacancy or new role today.