How do you handle stressful situations?
Job stress can have a negative impact on workplace performance, and your interviewers want to know whether you can handle work-related stress. Interviewers look for candidates who can deal with a range of stressful situations, both personal and work-related. Employees who understand their reaction to stress are an asset to hiring managers. They will appreciate a candidate who is motivated by healthy pressure and uses it to produce quality, efficient work.
Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you've handled stress in college or a past position. Explain the tools, methods, and techniques you use to work under pressure. Focus on stories and examples that demonstrate personal growth. This will show the interviewer how you turn stress into a positive, especially if you discuss an example where stress helped your work in some way.
"I stay motivated by thinking about the result. I've found that even during a challenging situation, reminding myself of my goals helps me take a step back and stay positive."
"Communication is key in stressful situations to ensure everyone is on the same page. For example, I was working on a project with another team, and we found there was a lot of duplicate work being done. By scheduling a weekly meeting and keeping open lines of communication with our teams and managers, we were able to work more efficiently and push the project forward to meet crucial deadlines."
