You’ll need to be prepared to respond appropriately because the interviewer doesn’t want to hear that you never get stressed. After all, everyone feels stressed at one time or another at work.
What the Interviewer Wants To Know
The interviewer really wants to know whether you can handle job-related stress, and what you do in particularly stressful situations at work. This is especially important if you’re interviewing for a position where stress is an integral part of the job. That’s because job stress can have a negative impact on workplace performance. The hiring manager may also be wondering whether stressful issues outside of work can impact your job performance. Employers look for candidates who can deal with a range of stressful situations, whether these are personal or work-related.
How To Answer “How Do You Handle Stress?”
To answer this question successfully, you’ll want to provide specific examples of how you’ve handled stress well in the past. You might also provide examples of times when pressure made you work more productively. Consider mentioning how a little stress can be a helpful motivator for you. Try to provide an example of a time when the stress of a difficult project helped you be a more creative and productive worker.
Examples of the Best Answers
Review these sample answers of how candidates cope with stress, along with information on why these are strong responses. Why It Works: This answer shows that the candidate enjoys working under pressure and thrives in stressful situations. Why It Works: With this response, the candidate shows how they turn stress into action—and into a positive instead of a negative—in order to accomplish their tasks. Why It Works: This response works well because the candidate shows that they enjoy working under pressure and that they can meet deadlines. Why It Works: For someone interviewing for a management role, this answer shows that the candidate is concerned about the stress levels of the team and how they work to provide a solution.
Tips for Giving the Best Response
Show the employer how you manage stress. That way, the interviewer can build up a clear picture of how well you adapt to stressful situations. For example, describe a time when you were given a difficult task or multiple assignments and how you rose to the occasion. Focus on success. When you respond, share examples of how you succeeded despite being in a stressful situation, or of how you problem-solved to resolve the issue that caused stress. When it’s a stressful job. Some jobs are stressful by nature. If you’re applying for a high-stress job, be sure to let the interviewer know that you’re used to working under stress and that it’s part of your normal routine.
What Not To Say
Don’t mention an issue you created. Avoid mentioning a time when you put yourself in a needlessly stressful situation. You don’t want to come across as someone who causes workplace stress. Don’t say that you were really stressed. You shouldn’t focus too much on how stressed you felt. While you should certainly admit that stress happens, try to emphasize how you dealt with the stress rather than how much it bothered you.
Possible Follow-Up Questions
What type of work environment do you prefer?Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.What challenges are you looking for in a position?Describe your work style.
Managing Stress During the Interview
Job interviews are stressful for most people. Even if you’ve interviewed a lot, it can still be challenging to stay calm and collected. You’re meeting new people in a new environment, and you’re trying to sell your credentials to someone who might be your next boss. There are strategies you can use to handle interview stress and to sell yourself to the hiring manager: Prepare. Be sure to research the company in advance and practice answering common interview questions. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel in the interview. Avoid negative thinking (“I won’t get this job”). Instead, visualize having a successful interview (for example, envision having positive interactions with the interviewer). Do this visualization in the hours right before the interview. Use these relaxation techniques. If you start to feel stressed just before the interview, try taking a deep breath or two to relax. During the interview, feel free to take a breath or a sip of water before answering a question. This will give you some time to compose yourself and prepare your answer. Watch your body language. Your body language during the interview can also help convey that you’re relaxed. Try to avoid fidgeting too much. Stand up straight and look the interviewer in the eye (but don’t stare). By appearing calm and confident, you are more likely to feel calm and confident. Being able to handle a stressful job interview effectively will indicate to employers that you’ll also be able to handle workplace stress.
