Do you work well under pressure? Provide an example of a time when you reacted appropriately when others may not have.

"I have worked security in the transportation industry for many years and have seen some unusual situations! When I first started working for a ferry company as a Security Officer, I was on the hectic Christmas eve shift. Most of the passengers were families trying to get home at the last minute to celebrate with their loved ones. People were pushier than normal, and I witnessed a child get bumped in the face by another adult. It was an unintentional bump; however, it was hard enough that the child suffered a bloody nose. I stayed with the child and his mother and asked a colleague to grab one of the first-aid kits onboard and alert the medic. My colleague seemed to be moving very slow, which did not impress me. After we had resolved the situation, I approached my colleague. I asked if he had children, to which he replied yes. With care and a softer tone, I explained that if that had been one of his children with a bloody nose on a busy ferry, he would have wanted everyone on board to hustle and help. He agreed to move more quickly the next time a medical situation arose. I do feel that, at times, I am more empathetic to these situations than the average person. However, I also know that I work in the security industry for exactly those reasons. I am here to help others and make them feel safe. To help others feel safe, I have to be ready to react swiftly and with control."

"I'm accustomed to working under pressure and have a history of performing well in intense situations. High-pressure situations make me focused and more efficient than the average individual. I attribute these skills and abilities to my time in the military and my dominant personality. Recently, I worked security at a festival where an altercation broke out between five intoxicated people. I jumped right into my training and identified the primary aggressor. I told him to 'take it easy' and reminded him that the situation was not worth it. At the same time, I showed confidence and powerful body language. I called for assistance; however, the security officer sent to help me defuse the situation seemed more intimidated by the crown than anything. I had to perform most of the crowd management tasks while also calming down the primary aggressor. In this situation, it was clear that I was the one in control, and I attribute that to my military training, which included lessons on crowd management techniques. I believe that every Security Manager should take some form of training in crowd management, so they do not feel intimidated in security situations involving groups."

To give your story-based response, try using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. First, discuss your qualities when it comes to working under pressure. Then focus on giving a real-life story example to keep the interviewer engaged.

Avoid simply saying you respond well under pressure. The interviewer wants to hear an example that backs up your statement. You should also avoid saying you do not react well under pressure or in stressful situations, as the interviewer will decide you do not have the skills they are looking for in a Security Manager.