When answering this question, avoid using phrases like the situation being 'very' hard or 'it was so 'crazy,' and everyone was 'incredibly' under the gun. Maintain a calm and collected demeanor. The aim is to showcase that you have no issue keeping calm under pressure. So try to come across as relaxed and confident.

Talk about a specific time when you faced a high-pressure situation at work and navigated it successfully with collected determination. Outline the situation and the actions you took. Highlight the well-calculated decisions you made while keeping a cool head. Share the results you generated through your actions and measurable impact on your teams.

"Throughout my career in the financial sector, I have gained the skills that help me constructively deal with stress. (Situation) Last year, one of our Investment Managers retired, and she passed me one of her most important legacy accounts. I was thrilled to have the opportunity; however, this account was notorious for being high-pressure. (Task) I knew that onboarding this client would be challenging. It would take a great deal of diligence, research, and time on my end. I felt overwhelmed, but I knew that serving this account to the best of my ability would speak volumes about my firm and be a valuable addition to my portfolio. (Action) During this time, I sought out a mentor with more experience in the financial sector. This individual taught me incredibly beneficial approaches and tools for managing my time, controlling stress, and regulating my mindset under pressure. (Result) As a result, I successfully onboarded this new account and even received accolades from the client, which reached my leadership team. Now, when I feel immense pressure on the job and in my personal life, I lean on these mechanisms and techniques to get me to the finish line with focus and poise."

More often than not, when a person recalls stressful situations from their past, they'll revert to the emotional state of the stress triggered by that memory. Convey that you keep calm under pressure. So practice and meditate only on those moments where you acted decisively and drove success for your teams. Convey how you managed your stress, and communicate this from a place of collective calm and confidence. Focus on the pride of that moment and let your emotional intelligence shine.