Freezing During the Job Interview

I’ve always been pretty good at job interviews. I’ve been on both sides – applying and hiring.  Interviewing like any skill requires practice.  The more you do it the better you get.  Of course you don’t want to do it too much or at least have a job if you do.  One of the fears about interviewing aligns with public speaking in general – freezing or blanking out.  This is especially likely if a question is asked that you just don’t know the answer.  This happened to me a couple of years ago.  I was interviewing for a job that I really wanted.  The company flew me to their facility, and I was ready and excited.  This was an industry outside of what I had normally worked in, and I thought the change would be great.  I got into the interview and it was going as expected with questions on experience and providing examples of what I had accomplished.  Then came a question on what was more important when reviewing a supplier proposal – cost analysis or price analysis.  Being brought up in the defense industry I naturally said price analysis due to the presence of competition.  This interview was for a commercial position where the company teamed heavily with its supply chain.  They partnered for very long periods and emphasized cost analysis and continuous improvement as a way to work pricing collectively.  I could see the look in the hiring manager’s face after I gave my answer.  I had blown it.  In her mind, emphasizing price over cost could lead to poor supplier selection decisions.  Based on the maturity of the product, she was right.  I tried to elaborate but it was too late and the rest of the interview went downhill from there.  There was an analysis test that I totally blanked out on.  All the numbers and words ran together.  All I could think about was that I should have thought before I gave that price analysis answer.  I actually apologized since they had flown me out there with plans to make an offer.  Since that time, I thought a lot about that interview and made it a learning experience.  Think about how your answers apply to the situation and understand how it might be different than what you are used to.  It shows the ability to adapt and change which is a skill valued by hiring managers.  Also, don’t let failure deter you.  I had more interviews after that one and did just fine.

Below are some tips on how not to freeze courtesy of kforce.com

How to Avoid Freezing Up in a Job Interview

Many of us may have faced the challenge of freezing up or being stumped during an interview. Even if you’ve researched the company and have the perfect interview attire it’s natural to be nervous and ice up.

If you catch yourself freezing up in the interview, follow these tips to get back on track:

1. Ask the interviewer to repeat the question

Asking the interviewer to clarify their question gives you a few extra moments to think through your answer, as well as get a better understanding of what they want to know about your background and experience. However, you should only ask an interviewer to repeat their question when absolutely necessary. Asking them to clarify too many times could suggest that you’re not a good listener.

1. Answer to the best of your ability

If you feel insecure with your answer, it’s okay to follow up with a question with, “did that answer your question?”. This shows that you‘re engaged and willing to clarify any questions the interviewer may still have.

1. Take notes and be prepared

Bring the company research you’ve done with you to the interview, preferably typed up and organized. It’s also a good idea to type out any interview questions you’re nervous about answering, so you can easily reference the information if you get stumped.

1. Write down trigger words

Keeping a short list of key words or phrases can refresh your memory on what you want to elaborate on regarding your background and knowledge. Using simple words like “tenacious” or “driven” can help you explain how you’ve gone the extra mile in your career. Even a phrase like, “I perform best in a fast-paced, metric driven environment” can help you translate an important fact about yourself in a previous role and the strength you brought to that project.

1. Practice

When preparing, it’s a good idea to have multiple people ask you interview questions. Practicing with different personalities and levels of authority will prepare you for almost any situation! 

Remember, the most important steps to warming up for your next job interview are being prepared, calm and honest. Preparation and practice will boost your confidence and ease your nerves …and if you get stumped, remain cool, take a deep breath and ask the interviewer to kindly repeat the question.