During an interview, it’s possible to encounter questions that you don’t know how to answer.

If you remain quiet or fake answering it the wrong way, you will leave a bad impression on the interviewer.

Therefore, you must know how you can tackle these scenarios.

Here are some effective ways to handle such situations:

1. Stay Calm and Take a Breath

When faced with a tough question, keep your cool. Taking a moment to compose yourself shows confidence.

2. Admit You Don’t Know

Honesty is important.

It’s better to admit that you don’t know the answer than to fake it. This shows integrity and humility.

3. Explain Your Thought Process

Even if you don’t know the answer, explain how you would approach solving the problem. It will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and logical thinking.

4. Relate to a Similar Experience

If you don’t know the exact answer, try to relate the question to a similar situation you’ve encountered.

In this way, you can show your ability to adapt and apply past knowledge.

5. Express Willingness to Learn

Show your eagerness to learn and grow to indicate that you are proactive and open to gaining new knowledge.

6. Offer to Follow Up

If possible, offer to follow up with a more detailed answer later. This attitude shows your commitment to providing thorough and accurate information.

Let’s understand it better with an example.

Sample Scenario

Suppose, John, is a candidate for a leadership role in an engineering team in an interview.

The interviewer asks,

“How would you handle the implementation of a new blockchain technology in your current system?”

John’s Response

John takes a deep breath and maintains eye contact with the interviewer. He says,

“That’s an interesting question. I haven’t worked with blockchain technology directly before.”

John continues,

“However, if I were to handle this, I would start by researching the technology thoroughly to understand its basics and implications. Then, I would consult with experts or hire a consultant who has experience with blockchain. I’d also organize training sessions for my team to ensure everyone is up to speed.”

John adds,

“For instance, when we introduced a new cloud infrastructure in our system last year, I led the process by researching extensively, consulting with experts, and gradually training my team to adapt to the new system.”

He says,

“I’m very interested in learning more about blockchain technology and how it can be integrated into our systems.”

Finally, John offers,

“I’d be happy to do some research on this topic and follow up with a more detailed answer after the interview.”

Key Points John Opted to Answer Smartly

• Stayed Calm: He didn’t panic or show discomfort.

• Admitted He Didn’t Know: He was honest about his lack of direct experience.

• Explained His Thought Process: He outlined a clear approach to tackling the problem.

• Related to a Similar Experience: He drew parallels with a past project to show his adaptability.

• Expressed Willingness to Learn: He showed eagerness to gain new knowledge.

• Offered to Follow Up: He demonstrated commitment to providing a complete answer.

By following these steps, John turned a challenging question into an opportunity to showcase his problem-solving skills, adaptability, and willingness to learn.

If you come across such a situation during your engineering leadership interviews, recall these points and try to compose your answer accordingly.