No matter how many times we’ve been through them, job interviews always make even the best of us very nervous and anxious. After all, it’s the deciding factor of whether we get the job or not so it’s all understandable. Even if we practice and try to cover all our bases, there’s still the possibility of that one question that will take us by surprise.

What should you do when an interview question leaves you stumped? Obviously, an “I don’t know” just won’t fly if you want to land the job. The truth is, that curveball question may just be the employer’s or hiring manager’s way of finding out how you think or your ability to handle pressure. So you need to be prepared.

Here’s some tips to make sure you appear confident, knowledgeable, and eager for when you get that tricky question.

Try thinking out loud

The purpose of these types of questions is most likely for the hiring manager or employer to get a non-rehearsed answer. They want to see you give the question some thought and naturally arrive at an answer or solution. Of course, you shouldn’t meander and appear indecisive. Start by telling the interviewer that it’s an interesting question and to let you think about it for a bit. Then approach it in a step-by-step manner and through multiple perspectives. Take the interviewer through your thoughts but remember to give them structure.

Ask for clarification

It’s okay to ask for more context or clarification of certain terms so you better understand the question and how to address it. That’s more appropriate than going ahead confidently with an incorrect answer or one that doesn’t make sense. Companies appreciate honesty and that goes a long way over false confidence.

Relate to a more familiar topic

If you don’t really know how to answer a question but it reminds you of a relevant topic or similar experience, explain this to the interviewer and then elaborate how the two are related. For example, if the interviewer is asking about a product or market which you have no experience on but can be tackled in a way that is similar to what you have previously done, you can clearly lay out the comparison and reframe it according to your approach or expertise. This shows your adaptability and analytical skills, which employers always value in their team.

Express interest in the question

Even if you really can’t answer the question no matter how much thought you give it, let your interviewer know that while it’s something you’re unfamiliar with but that you’re very much interested in learning more about it. If the company, business, or employer you are interviewing for provides training for its employees, they might be willing to teach you the topic of the question if they decide to hire you, especially if you excelled in other parts of the interview.

Recognize when a question is asking too much

Just because you’re the one being interviewed doesn’t mean you can’t learn a thing or two about the company you are interviewing for. Some companies use the interview to actually get free work from the candidates, asking them to give a sample marketing plan or strategy as a test or interview question, then decide not to hire you when they’ve already acquired your work. If you get a question that requires you to be a little too specific or you are prodded by the interviewer to elaborate more where you feel it’s getting too far, you can politely decline to answer. Even if it costs you the job, you wouldn’t want to work for a company that adopts such practices.

Ready to ace that interview?

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