In my last newsletter, I discussed how to prepare for a job interview by “unpacking your skillset suitcase” in the form of stories that show you have the skills needed for a position (show, don’t tell). I recommended you practice sharing those stories out loud with a trusted friend or family member to gain confidence. But what if you get asked a question you haven’t prepared an answer for?
A career coaching client recently asked me this very question. She was a TV news producer, one of the team of people behind the scenes helping on-air talent like anchors and reporters perform smoothly, even in constantly evolving breaking news stories. But she readily admitted that she struggled with smoothly and succinctly answering unexpected questions during interviews.
Here’s what I told her…it’s OK to pause before answering.
During the stress of an interview, you may worry you’ll look less competent if you take a moment before answering. But in reality, it’s one of the BEST things to do IF you do it the right way.
Follow these three simple steps.
- Acknowledge the question: Say something along the lines of, “That’s a great question!” or “I’ve never been asked that before!”
- Ask for a pause: Ask your interviewer if you can have a moment to think things through. The chances of them saying no are EXTREMELY low.
- Take a short pause: Try to keep your silence to a minute or less. If it helps you concentrate, close your eyes. Briefly think through your answer and practice the first sentence you’re going to say in your head.
If you know you’re likely to use this strategy frequently during job interviews, let your interviewer know that so you’re not asking for a moment over and over. At the beginning of your interview, inform them that, “I’m someone who likes to think through my questions before answering to make sure I’m as accurate and thorough as possible. When I pause, please know I’m collecting my thoughts.”
Accuracy and thoroughness are highly valued skills (from that skillset suitcase you’re bringing), so this is again reinforcing the message that you’re a strong candidate.
And how does this tie into this newsletter’s theme of your career as a journey? If you’ve ever traveled across multiple time zones, you know the impact that jet lag can have on your ability to enjoy yourself. While you may want to make the most of your trip, pausing for a nap, or at least a rest, is sometimes the best way to spend a portion of your limited time abroad. If you want to live it up, catch your breath first.
In my next newsletter, I’ll share another strategy for improving your job interview skills which is all about having fun (and who doesn’t need a little more fun in their lives!)
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