How do you deal with stress?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
The Goal
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Community Answers

Working in a busy environment, you can expect a fair share of stress. The interviewer wants to know how you adapt to a changing environment or frustrated customers. They need to know if your stress influences your behavior, or if you have control over your stress responses.

Stressful situations are unpredictable by nature. But after being in a job after a while, you can anticipate stressful situations, whenever they may arise or however they might unfold. Think about your automatic relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, taking short walks during your breaks, or meditation tools to help you use to stay calm throughout the day. These are preventative actions that will help you keep calm and carry on!

There is always an opportunity in every question to kaizen your answer. If every answer you offer goes above and beyond their expectations, you've delivered the best interview you can. Stress is contagious. If you can be centered throughout stressful situations, you've done your job. If you can de-escalate the stress of others in your workplace, you've gone above and beyond. Consider this when framing your answer.

"At my last job, Mondays stressed me out. Our morning meetings lasted so long it cut into my workday and set me back for the rest of the week. I started preparing on Sundays, checking my emails, and arranging my schedule so that I could fit everything in without having to work overtime."

"I try to identify and diffuse stress triggers right away. By asking myself what part of a situation has triggered that cortisol response, I can then further explore the reality behind the perception that triggered that stress response. So I always ask a lot of questions. This helps me determine the truth of a stressful situation, identify areas that have more flexibility so I can develop a plan. Stressful situations are sometimes avoidable, sometimes not. But gaining insights on how to limit their frequency or duration is how I cope with stress. I guess I deal with stress by being mindful to respond rather than react."

Anonymous Answer

"When I have stress, I always tried to identify the trigger of my stress and see if I can resolve the trigger. Sometimes it can be resolved. For example, in my previous job, I felt Monday was very stressful as we usually had catch-up meetings which took so long that cut into my daily schedule. I had much less time to work on routine tasks as other weekdays. Then I started to prepare for Monday meetings, checked emails, and worked on some recurrent routine tasks so as to have a smooth Monday. This helped me reduce Monday's stress. Some stress triggers cannot be resolved such as uncertainty. I usually tell myself although I cannot control uncertainty, I can plan for possible scenarios based on current information so that I am well prepared to react when it happens."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great start, but I suggest developing your response to show the self-care strategies that you've developed for managing stress (for example: do you practice taking deep breaths, giving yourself a stretch break, or taking a quick walk? Naming the self-care strategies that you've found helpful will make your response even more compelling.

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Anonymous Answer

"I have found the best way to deal with stress and stressful situations is to take a step back and take refresh. That refresh can be in the form of physical exercise, listening to my favorite song, and taking a moment to get reorganized."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! Can you provide a specific example of a time when you were stressed at work and explain how you successfully navigated the situation? Including an example will prove to the interviewer that you are capable of managing stress. You might also directly state that you enjoy fast-paced working environments and thrive under pressure. Good job!