Don't Know the Answer

Question:

I have a job interview next week. What do I do if they ask me a question, and I have no idea what the answer is?

Answer:

This is a great time to ask that question, because you still have time to do something about it.

Researching the company is both very important in itself, and a big part of the answer to your question. Know everything there is to know about the company you’re interviewing with, and also about the field. Read about it on Glassdoor.com, the Maryland Workforce Exchange, Google, and anything else that’s available to you. Check out Reference USA, an online database that posts information about most companies in the US. You can use it free with your Frederick County Public Library card. Start at fcpl.org; click Learn, then Business & Career.

That should reduce the number of questions to which you don’t know the answer, and give you confidence as a side benefit. But what about situations in which you have no experience? For instance, “How would you handle a difficult customer?” You could start with, “I’ve been fortunate enough that I haven’t had to deal with that situation. But if it happens in the future, here’s what I think I would do.”

If you know the answer, but need a minute to think about it (or about how you want to phrase your answer), try restating the question. “How would I handle a difficult customer?” Or ask for a moment to think about it. “Hmm, that’s an interesting question. May I have a moment to think about that?” (You don’t want to do this with more than a couple of question; but if they seem reluctant to allow you that moment, this may not be the place for you.)

Sometimes a trick question will come up in an interview. “If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?” The point is not actually a particular breed; the point is to see what you do when you’re taken by surprise. Almost any answer is better than no answer in this case. If you can figure out the answer logically, do it out loud, so the interviewer can follow your thought process.

The point of the interview is not to trip you up (or if it seems that it is, get out as soon as you can.) The point is to get to know you a little, assess whether you’re a good fit for the position and the company, and to introduce the company to you. There’s no benefit for the employer in trying to stump you, and she probably won’t. You aren’t expected to know everything; just do your best.