Do you work well under pressure?
In the FBI Intelligence Analyst Candidate Information packet on the FBI website, one of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required is stress tolerance. Working as an FBI Intelligence Analyst can be stressful at times, and the interviewer wants to see how well you work under pressure. They want to hear that you have the ability to stay calm and focused on the task at hand and that you do not crumble under pressure. Describe how you work in stressful situations, using a work-related example in your response.
Avoid saying that you do not work well under pressure. If the interview panel determines you cannot handle challenging situations and do not have stress tolerance, you will not earn high marks from the interviewers. You should also avoid not giving an example when you have worked well under pressure. The interviewers want you to elaborate when describing how you have high-stress tolerance.
"Yes, I work very well under pressure. I was in the military for eight years and have been to battle and under attack many times. My military experience and training taught me how to handle stress and the pressures of being a member of the armed forces."
"I find I perform my best work under pressure. Working as a law enforcement officer and then a detective with the anti-gang unit for the past ten years taught me how to remain calm and perform my job duties in the most stressful situations. I have been shot at, hit with a car, and in hostage situations. I was able to stay focused on what needed to be done without getting injured or killed while protecting the lives of my partners and the community."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Yes. I've worked customer service jobs where speed of delivery, accuracy, and efficiency was very important when servicing hundreds of customers a day. At a restaurant, there are roles that manage the kitchen and the flow of orders. It’s a fast-paced job, so if you get behind, the kitchen gets behind which causes the orders to come out wrong or late. I was hired as a cashier; but because we were understaffed, I was tasked with this role. I handled hundreds of orders a day. I set up a system where I could better organize the orders so that we were quick, but also efficient and accurate. Being an Intelligence Analyst is a bit different, but I am confident that I can adapt to other types and levels of pressure as well.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! Customer service can definitely be a pressure-filled job. Include an example of a time when you successfully handled lots of stress so the interviewer knows you have the ability to do so. Also, consider using the STAR method to answer this question so you explain everything logically. Good job!
