Another Interview Question: How Do You Handle Stress?

What they’re really saying: “Do you have good problem-solving, time-management, and decision-making skills?”

What they’re not saying: “How do you unwind?”

Cite at least one–if not all three–skills in your answer, and use a specific example. Sometimes a personal answer can work (i.e., I exercise three times a week to stay balanced), but it’s safer to answer how you handle stress or pressure on the job.

A: “In stressful situations, I take a step back and analyze the best ways to solve the problem. For example, in my previous position, there were moments of high volume that were stressful. In order to provide quality customer service to each individual, I prioritized their needs, quickly assessed which cases could be handled by colleagues, and addressed the most urgent situations first.”