How To Handle Interview Questions You Have No Idea About

Let’s talk about the tension that usually comes before a said interview. The feeling of uncertainty and self-doubt. You have been researching and preparing intensively but you realize that there are definitely going to be some questions they ask that you’ve never even thought of before!

You have looked over the job description a hundred times, practiced answering the most commonly asked questions you could find online, and even had friends and family evaluate you.

But you know from past experiences that interviews always have at least one question that throws you for a loop. It’s nerve-wracking, right?

Consider taking a few deep breaths and remember all your qualifications. Even if you don’t know the exact answer, you can lead the conversation back to why you’d be perfect for the role.

Here are 5 tactics that might help power through those tricky unknown questions in an interview room:

1. Ask for clarification.

If you’re not 100% sure what exactly they’re asking, it’s okay to say so. Something like, “Could you provide more context about what you’re looking for in an answer?”

This gives you a few extra seconds to think while showing the interviewers that you want to understand the question fully before responding.

2. Relate it to your experience if possible.

Even if the direct subject matter is unfamiliar, think about if there’s any indirect experience you have that could apply.

For example, if they ask about a technical process you’re unfamiliar with, maybe you oversaw a similar project or supervised someone who previously handled that task. Find those small connections to buy yourself time to think.

3. Stall for time by commenting on the question.

Saying something brief like “That’s an interesting question” or “I’ve never been asked that before” lets you collect your thoughts for 3-5 more seconds without sitting in awkward silence.

You’re acknowledging you need a moment to put an answer together thoughtfully.

4. Admit what you don’t know but discuss how you’d find the answer.

It’s okay, and sometimes even impressive, to be straightforward and say, “You know, I’m not immediately familiar with that, I’ll research the information needed to address that issue.”

This shows your problem-solving ability and willingness to learn. It also places you in a better position to be considered further for the role.

5. Relate it to your strengths, even if indirectly.

If all else fails, consider how any part of the question ties back to relevant strengths, skills, or experiences for the role.

For example, maybe the question is about a healthcare compliance issue, and you say, “I don’t have direct experience in that area, but I am very detail-oriented and skilled at navigating complex regulations from my past role at a law firm.”

It shows you can link seemingly unrelated topics to your qualifications which is an additional professional skill.

Conclusion

Interviews are a two-way street – they evaluate not just your knowledge but also your ability to think on your feet, communicate effectively under pressure, and showcase relevant transferable skills even when caught off guard.

The key things to remember are to stay calm, be confident, and address how you would handle an unfamiliar situation rather than getting flustered about not knowing a direct answer.

Are you struggling with answering interview questions? Get ahead with our professional interview coaching services today for better performance in your upcoming interview.