After weeks of searching for the perfect job, the day finally comes when you get to meet with a recruiter about a possible job opportunity. You face the day thinking you are prepared for anything that you may face, dressed in a killer business suit, with resume in hand. But then IT happens. You are caught off guard by an interview question. Your eyes glaze over, and the feeling of panic washes over you. Oh. No!

What can you do to redeem yourself?

Stall things for a few moments.

First of all, don’t panic or feel embarrassed. Most recruiters understand and appreciate that candidates can and do get stuck on some topics from time to time. Take a moment to collect yourself. Then say something like, “Good question! Wow, I am a little stumped on that one for some reason.” This gives you a moment or two to gather your thoughts.

Ask for clarification.

It’s ok to ask the recruiter to give you a little more information about what he or she is looking for. Just ask and say that you want to provide the best possible answer. Try to smile and be sincere. The recruiter may even mention that it’s not necessary and just move onto an interview question that makes better sense.

Request to come back to it.

If you are completely caught off guard and you cannot think of anything to say, you can also try the tactic of asking the recruiter to ask you another question and you can come back to this one later in the interview. Your memory is likely to be jogged as you work through some other questions.

Change the subject.

Another tactic you may try is to redirect the interviewing process briefly by mentioning that the interview question reminds you of a situation at your previous employer. Share an antidote about how you solved a problem or made a good decision in the past, relevant to the topic of the question. Then come back to it if you can.

Have a sense of humor.

If you can build rapport with the recruiter or person interviewing you, there’s a chance that he or she won’t even notice you are struggling with a particular interview question. Have a sense of humor about it and say something to the effect of, “I’m so excited about meeting with you today and sharing my qualifications for the job that my brain seems to be getting ahead of itself.” Then laugh lightly and see how the recruiter responds.

Remember, preparation is key to a successful job interview. But even the best and most seasoned job seekers gets caught off guard once in a while, especially if the interview question is of the weird variety.

About Staffing Resources

Staffing Resources, established in 1985, is a privately held Georgia-based corporation and a certified Female Business Enterprise. We provide a wide range of full- and part-time employees to businesses, associations, government and non-profit organizations in the metro Atlanta area. If you are looking to advance your career or land a new job in Atlanta, contact us today!