Answering Interview Questionshaven’t thought about that one lately.” This stalling behavior is
perfectly tolerated by the interviewer because you are letting him
or her into your thinking process. And, after all, you arehuman,
and so is he or she! Interviewers don’t necessarily expect you to
answer on a dime.
Some questions require a moment to reflect. As you use this
time (rather than panicking), allow yourself to take a deep breath
or two. It’s also okay to allow your eyes to roam or glance down
at the floor, at a window, or to a picture on the wall.
Extensive research in how our brains access information tells
us that sometimes it is necessary to look to the side, up, down, or
even “into space” for a moment in order to give the brain access
to stored sensory cues. These cues help us construct what to say
next. Ninety-nine percent of the time you can trust your brain to
come up with an answer.
If you can’t think of anything relevant to say at that moment,
the following answer will keep you poised, while at the same time
showing that you are willing to take initiative:
ANSWER:You know, that’s such an interesting question. I think
the answer deserves time for some research. Can I
look into it this evening and call or send an e-mail
with my answer first thing in the morning?
Handling Questions in Nontraditional Interviews
What if you have an interview over the phone? You may be
using the same words to communicate your answers, but you will
need to pay extra attention to how you communicate warmth
and enthusiasm. Here are a few strategies to use when you want
your phone interview to have the same impact as being face-
to-face:
- Stand up while you’re talking. You will breathe more
deeply, and your voice will sound fuller. - Smile. Yes, smile! Professional salespeople are trained to
use this technique so that they actually sound friendly
and cheerful (even if they’re really not having a great