Tell me about a time you had to deal with a stressful situation on the job.

"At the beginning of my last position, one of my teammate's family members had a severe medical emergency. I was left to finish the job with one less co-worker on a very tight deadline and lean budget. It was my duty to provide quality data to the client while ensuring the job was completed on time and within budget. I communicated with my remaining team to let them know of the situation, the final goal, my plan, and the tasks I needed their help with. Because of our teamwork and communication skills, we were able to provide the client with the data ahead of schedule and within budget."

The interviewer wants to know whether you can handle job-related stress and what you do in particularly stressful situations at work. The interviewer may also ask if stressful issues outside of work can impact your job performance. Employers look for candidates who can deal with a range of stressful situations, both personal and work-related.