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How To Answer  Interview Questions About How You Handle Stress

Most jobs are stressful and few go 100% according to plan.

Job stress can impact negatively on performance and employers ask questions related to workplace stress to check how you can handle challenges.

Employers want to employ someone who can stay calm, work well in stressful situations and solve problems. They may not feel comfortable if you cannot convince them with good answers.

To answer this question, you should prepare well for the interview. Give an example of how you previously handled the stressful situation, your coping technique, and skills you gained from working under pressure.

So, how can you answer interview questions about how you handle stress for you to be considered in the next interview?

Here are 3 questions and 3 ways to go about it!

1. How Do You Handle Stress And Pressure On The Job?

To answer this question, the best approach is to demonstrate that you’ve encountered these situations in the past.

Describe the steps you follow to get through the situation because employers love to hear the series of steps you follow.

When giving your answer remember to give examples. Talk about situations where you successfully handled stress.

You can respond by saying: “In times of stress, I have learned to prioritize my tasks to continue being productive.” Then give examples using the STAR technique which is situation, task, action, and results.

2. Describe A Time When Your Workload Was Heavy And How You Handled It

This is a behavioral interview question and the employer tries to predict how you would handle an issue.

The employer expects you to provide an example of an event that happened in your workplace, a description of what caused the issue, how you addressed it, and the results of your intervention.

Having prior interview preparation will help you provide a detailed story of how you dealt with the situation and how you came up with an effective solution.

In your response, mention specific skills that helped you to handle the heavy workload.

Do not just say that you stepped back and stayed until the work was done because this shows that you fear taking action when facing a challenging situation.

3. Describe A Time When Your Work Was Criticized And How You Handled It

A question along these lines may sound like an attempt to get you to admit your worst on-the-job mistakes but that is not the case.

Interviewers want to know how you take suggestions and corrections with the right attitude. They also want to know how you work well under different management styles, and if criticism can make you defensive or angry.

Emphasize your ability to handle criticism in a calm and collected manner when answering this question. Showcase your willingness to take the opinions of others, learn from the comments and make improvements.

Talk about how you listened and made changes when the manager critiqued your work. Demonstrate your flexibility when working with others with whom you may disagree sometimes and show that you always aim for quality work.

Your goal is to show how you improved and became a better professional because of criticism.

Conclusion

There is no perfect answer to answering questions related to stress but your aim should be to show employers that you stay calm, think logically, and stay productive despite the stressful situation. Practice answering the questions above and you will respond in a way that will make you stand out from the competition and impress the employer.

Want to prove to the employer this year that you are confident when coping up with a stressful situation?

Book This One-On-One Interview Coaching Session Today!

14 Comments

  1. Thank you for this key. Stress can actually affect your performance especially if you do not know how to overcome it. Happy New Year!

  2. Thanks guys for that enlightenment, I look forward to consider that. Be safe!!!

  3. This is very helpful and important to job seekers especially when your in an interview room.

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