What to Do If You Don’t Know the Answer to an Interview Question
Navigating the tricky waters of an interview can be daunting, especially when a question leaves you stumped. We’ve gathered ten invaluable tips from CEOs, HR managers, and other top executives on how to handle not knowing an answer. From admitting ignorance and showcasing adaptability to remaining calm and seeking clarity, these insights will prepare you for success in your next interview.
- Admit Ignorance, Showcase Adaptability
- Request Question Rephrasing
- Express Curiosity When Unsure
- Interpret Underlying Competency
- Demonstrate Initiative to Learn
- Display Honesty and Proactivity
- Walk Through Your Thought Process
- Seek Question Clarification
- Embrace a Reflective Pause
- Remain Calm and Seek Clarity
Admit Ignorance, Showcase Adaptability
One tip for handling a situation where you don’t know the answer to an interview question is to stay calm and be honest. It’s okay to admit that you don’t have all the answers, but show your willingness to learn and problem-solve. You can also try to relate the question to a similar experience or skill you possess, showcasing your ability to think on your feet and adapt to new challenges.
Remember, interviews are not just about having all the right answers, but also about demonstrating your attitude and approach to problem-solving. So, stay confident, stay authentic, and show your potential employer that you are a quick thinker and a team player.
Alex Stasiak, CEO & Founder, Startup House
Request Question Rephrasing
The most important thing you can do in this situation is buy yourself more time to think. Asking the interviewer to rephrase the question or to approach the question from a different perspective gives you some extra wiggle room, buying you additional time to generate an answer.
Additionally, if the interviewer rephrases their question, this may help with answer generation, as you may have originally misunderstood the nature of the question. This is particularly true if the interviewer simplifies the question the second time around, which they are likely to do.
Although applicants may feel like this is accepting defeat, it highlights to the interviewer that you are taking them seriously. The alternative, unfortunately, is to sit and wait in silence while you desperately think of an answer, which is far from an ideal strategy.
This approach also highlights to the employer that you were listening to what they said, but they perhaps didn’t explain themselves effectively. Consequently, they are likely to chalk it up to a miscommunication, leaving the candidate blameless.
Chloe Yarwood, HR Manager, Test Partnership
Express Curiosity When Unsure
Trying to fake your way through an answer is rarely going to turn out well for you. I’ve interviewed a few candidates who tried this, and even in cases where we’ve hired them, they haven’t lasted long. It’s a much better look to admit that you don’t know the answer and express some curiosity about it.
I’ve been impressed by candidates who asked follow-up questions to get more understanding of the topic or related it to something they knew better from previous roles. It’s also useful to keep in mind that one question usually won’t make or break any job interview; if you don’t know, it’s not the end of the world, especially if you handle it well.
Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations, Bellhop
Interpret Underlying Competency
If you encounter a competency or scenario-based question in an interview and don’t know the answer, focus on interpreting what they are truly assessing, such as teamwork abilities, leadership skills, conflict resolution, or decision-making capabilities. The key is to highlight your thought process and approach.
For example, you could say: “That’s not something I’ve directly experienced, but a similar situation I encountered was… This is how I handled it, what I learned from it, and how I would apply those lessons in the future.”
This approach demonstrates your ability to think on your feet, draw from past experiences, and show a willingness to learn and adapt.
Dawn Gulanes, Headhunter for Commodities Trading, Kepler Search
Demonstrate Initiative to Learn
In my role as CEO, I’ve interviewed many candidates, and it’s not uncommon for someone to be unsure about an answer during the interview. One response that particularly stood out to me was from a candidate who didn’t know the answer to a technical question. Instead of avoiding the question, he said, “I’m not familiar with this specific technology, but I’ve faced similar challenges before. When I encountered a similar situation, I quickly engaged in a training course and also facilitated a study group with colleagues to enhance our collective understanding.”
This answer impressed me because it showed his ability to acknowledge what he didn’t know, his initiative to learn quickly, and his commitment to collaborative growth. This demonstrates not just problem-solving skills but also a dedication to personal and professional development, which are invaluable traits at Messente.
Uku Tomikas, CEO, Messente
Display Honesty and Proactivity
When faced with an interview question where the answer escapes you, my top tip is to lean into honesty coupled with curiosity. It’s completely human to not know everything, and admitting this can actually display confidence and authenticity. What’s crucial here is how you frame your response. For example, you might say, “That’s a great question, and I don’t have the answer at my fingertips. However, I’m very interested in understanding this area better.”
Suggesting a follow-up after doing some research shows your commitment to learning and your proactive nature. This approach not only salvages the moment but also turns it into an opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and diligence. It’s a strategy that mirrors how we encourage our team at our company to tackle unknowns—by embracing them as steps toward growth.
Alari Aho, CEO and Founder, Toggl Inc
Walk Through Your Thought Process
My number-one tip is: don’t pretend to know the answer. It sends the wrong signal to the interviewer. Know that no interviewer is expecting you to know the answer to every question, but what they are expecting is for you to walk them through your thought process. Be sure to pause, repeat the question back to the interviewer to clarify your understanding, pause, and then respond that you don’t know the answer, but you would like to walk them through your thought process on how you would get to the answer.
Joel Polanco, Senior Product Manager, Intel
Seek Question Clarification
Ask for more details. Based on my experience, I have learned that with all the tension and jumbled emotions that most people are prone to carry with them into an interview room, chances are that certain questions may sound strange and unfamiliar, even when these questions are very familiar, and we, in fact, do know the answers.
You see, the importance of staying calm and maintaining a professional composure, both mentally and physically during interviews, can never be overemphasized. However, the truth is that calming our emotions during interviews can sometimes be a very tough thing to do, especially when we have a lot riding on our performance and ability to make a good and lasting impression.
Regardless, asking for clarification gives you a second chance at better processing the question because then, the question would probably be rephrased or explained in scenarios that help you get a better handle on how best to approach the question. Also, when you ask for clarification, you would have given your emotions enough time to have quieted down, making it easier for you to assume a mental state where you can actually hear the question, and not just your own fear-induced thoughts.
Cajetan Okwor, General Manager, Topratedlaw
Embrace a Reflective Pause
When you’re stumped by an interview question, my first tip is to embrace the pause. At our company, we value reflective thinking as much as immediate knowledge. If you encounter a question you can’t answer, it’s perfectly fine to take a moment to think it over. Tell the interviewer, “That’s a great question; let me think about that for a second.”
This response shows that you’re thoughtful and take your answers seriously rather than rushing to fill the silence. It’s a sign of maturity and professionalism. We’ve often found that candidates who take this approach during interviews are more likely to approach their work with deliberation and care, qualities we highly prize.
Jason Hennessey, CEO, Hennessey Digital
Remain Calm and Seek Clarity
I would say just remain calm and honest. It’s normal to get thrown off by an unexpected interview question or a question that you don’t have much experience with. But the key is to be honest and not try to make up an answer on the spot. Take a moment to compose yourself and think about your past experiences or relevant skills that you can relate to the question. It’s okay to ask for clarification or take a few seconds to gather your thoughts before answering.
Employers understand that candidates may not know everything, and they are more interested in seeing how you handle unfamiliar situations rather than expecting you to have all the answers. This is why it’s important to stay calm and composed during an interview, as it shows your ability to handle pressure and think on your feet.
One tip for handling this type of situation could be to practice with mock interviews beforehand. This can help you become more comfortable with different types of questions and give you a chance to think about potential responses. I also recommend doing research on the company and the position beforehand, as this can help prepare you for unexpected interview questions.
Daniel Cook, HR / Marketing Executive, Mullen and Mullen
