Blog Post: ummmm can you repeat the question?

In the midst of momentary writer's block, my mind froze as I struggled to identify what is most important for me to share with you as a job seeker. Then the question occurred to me, do you know what to do if you freeze up in response to an interviewer's question. I want to help you get beyond the standard space filler, "ummmmm", so that you can really shine.

A Wall street Journal article, "What Won't You Do For a Job", dated June 2, 2009, emphasized that recruiters are beefing up their screening process; Some are going to great lengths to create "hoops" for candidates to jump through. These hoops include unconventional questions and situations. One candidate was reportedly invited to a group interview and asked to "sell" the competitor seated next to him.

The Wall street article discusses how to be prepared for "off the wall" questions. I believe that part of the preparation is knowing how to handle awkward silences, especially when it's your turn to speak and the words won't come. Here are some tips that I recommend:

• Consider being honest by admitting that you are "nervous"- yes, the anti-perspirant commercials, and all your friends, tell you to "never let them see you sweat", but if your body is already giving you away, e.g. blank stares, shaking voice, a twitch in your eye, it's best to just be "real". You'd be surprised that as soon as you "own it" and laugh it off, the nerves will loosen their grip on you.

• Take a pause and a breath before answering each question- Remember that an interview is a conversation, it's not meant to be a tennis volley; Don't think you have to fire back with a "canned" response.

• "Buy time" on a few of the hardest questions by saying, "that's a really good question. May I take a moment to think about it?" If appropriate, incorporate a humorous laugh or exhalation to emphasize how impressed you are.

• Demonstrate your listening skills and mirror back the interviewer's language. Repeat the words that your interviewer uses back in your answer. As you do this, you can speak slowly and gather your thoughts. For example, if they say, "Tell me about a time that you were challenged beyond your capabilities and what you did about it?" Take your deep breath then slowly lead in with, "For me, the one time I can think of that I felt challenged beyond my capabilities was......"

• If you really didn't understand the question, ask for the interviewer to repeat it. Yes, you don't want to do this more than once or twice, but sometimes questions don't make sense with the way they are worded. It's much better to ask for a repeat, than to frustrate them by answering the "wrong" question.

• Remember "facts tell, stories sell" (see previous blog entry). If you can't think of an answer, start rolling over in your mind stories (events) from your own experience or even someone else's that will provide you with something to build your answer upon.
• Once you have given a complete answer, resist the urge to keep adding upon it. It will cause you to water down your response and go in directions that you don't want to. If the interviewer seems bewildered, just ask, "did I answer your question?"

Just as I have now shared my thoughts with you which were once blocked, I trust that you will be able to get past your own roadblocks during interviews. You don't have to rely on "ummmm" ever again to get you through, unless you like really like the sound of it.