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By Winnie Ayero | 3 June 2022
Congratulations! You made it to the shortlist, the interview is in session, you have probably already answered some common interview questions and behavioural interview questions. Next thing you know, the interviewer asks you to “sell me this pen” Do you know what is happening at this moment? You are still being interviewed but instead of questions and answers, you are being put in a situation similar to what you will face on the job if you get it. This is called a situational interview.
Situational interviews test your problem-solving skills, your ability to think and act on your feet with limited time and supervision, organizational and communication skills. While behavioural interviews ask how you handled a situation in the past, situational interviews put you in the situation and see how you would handle it in real time.
Other situational interview scenarios include the following:
Fix some computer coding
Write and/or reply to an email
Work with a spreadsheet
Create an infographic
Prepare and make a PowerPoint presentation
In the case of a presentation, you may be given notice and a topic the day before the interview – then you prepare and make the presentation at the interview. Then again there is a chance that you may be asked to do it right in the middle of an ongoing interview, at this point the situational interview would have morphed into a stress interview. I once attended an interview where towards the end of the interview I was asked to provide minutes of the proceedings of the interview when it ends, I had of course not been taking notes, and if you are wondering how I fared, I nailed it! Got the job but I turned it down for reasons that I will not discuss here.
Like situational interviews, stress interviews are practical in the sense that you will not be asked how you work under pressure, instead the interviewers will deliberately put you under stress to see how you handle the pressure. Try to remain calm and do not lose your confidence.
A group of panel interviewers may ask you several questions in rapid succession or ask curveball questions to intentionally throw you off balance and put you on the defensive e.g., “Every CV has at least one lie in it. What’s yours?” You may even be asked questions that are considered illegal in some countries. The stress is usually intended to be psychological. If you get questions that put you on the defensive, rephrase them in a less inflammatory manner. For instance, in the question about the CV (hopefully there are no lies in your CV as that would outrightly kill your credibility if there are any - especially if they are discovered), ask the interview if they would like to know whether your CV is truthful and reaffirm that it is indeed 100% truthful. Be assertive, if you are asked an illegal question, decline to answer it.
Silence is another tactic that interviewers use to create stress. Prolonged silence can result in stress and induce pressure. If no guidance is provided, ask for it. You can politely ask: “Excuse me, is the interview still going on?”. You are not being asked questions, but you are definitely being watched to see how you would behave in similar situations. Make sure you pass with flying colours!
So there you have it! Next time you go to an interview and end up being put under seemingly undue pressure to deliver you should be able to know what is happening – whether you are in a situational interview or a stress interview or a situational interview that morphed into a stress interview. Knowledge is power, you will no longer be blindsided. We are rooting for you!
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This article is also published in the GFI Newsletter on LinkedIn
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