A personal interview is one of the first ways to get a job. Through it, an individual can clarify all his skills and develop his methods of communicating with others. The individual faces many questions during the interview and must deal with them calmly and in the right way, with positive and negative matters and answer the question: How should I act if I do not know the answer in the interview?

 What are the best ways to act when I don't know the answer to an interview question?

There are several ways an individual should act when they do not know the answer to questions in a personal interview:

• You should first take some time to think about your answer to the question and you can ask the interviewer to repeat the question.
• You have to admit that you are unable to answer the question in a professional manner.
• You can relate the question to some of your own previous experiences.
• You have to show your willingness to learn about things you are not familiar with, which will increase your chances of getting that job and your continued effort and pursuit.

How do I deal with stress and fear when I don't know the answer?

To deal with the stress and fear that an individual feels during personal interviews, especially when they are unable to answer some questions, there are some things that they should follow:

• He should breathe regularly in order to get rid of the feeling of fear and tension.
• Smile calmly to hide signs of tension and you can take some rest and relaxation to think calmly.
• You need to analyze the situation well in order to identify the correct logical way to get rid of the feeling of fear.
• You need to make a specific plan to deal with this feeling of stress and be able to be productive and work without it affecting your life in a negative way.

Should I admit I don't know or try to guess in interviews?

There is no specific answer to this question, as you cannot directly admit that you do not know the answer, nor can you guess the answer. There are some strategies that you should rely on when you are unable to answer in personal interviews, which are:

• You should be spontaneous and honest when dealing with the interviewer during the interview. You can say that you have never dealt with a question like this before, instead of stating that you do not know the answer definitively.
• You can think out loud about this question and repeat it again in order to think about it calmly.
• If you do not know the answer to the question, you can ask the other person to explain it in detail to you in order to understand it in a calm manner.
• If the question is about a specific skill, you can explain that you do not have enough experience in that area.
• Don't guess at the answer, as this may diminish the interviewer's confidence in your ability to handle difficult situations at work.
• You must emphasize your ability to succeed and learn continuously in order to identify the appropriate answers to these questions.

How do I demonstrate my skills and ability to learn instead of a direct answer?

There are many things you should buy in order to show all your learning skills better than not answering the question:

• You can first ask a set of questions that will help you get more out of the discussion and learn more about the job.
• You can connect your information to the experiences you have so that you can direct your skill to help you learn in a better way.
• You can try some practical methods that contribute to better learning and accessing information in an easier way than learning theoretically.
• You must engage in a lot of discussions about how to develop yourself and the right ways that contribute to learning.
• You can use modern technological methods to learn about all new fields.

What techniques can help me take advantage of the moment of not knowing?

There are some methods that can help you develop yourself and benefit from not knowing the answer during the interview, which are:

• You can turn this moment into a unique opportunity to learn new things by asking for a detailed explanation or clarification of this question.
• You can confess after knowing all the details about this matter and explaining your position as to why you have not worked in this field before and so on.
• You must make it clear to the other party that you can learn and read about this topic in order to find the correct and appropriate answer, which will strengthen your position.
• You should try to deal well through body language. You should not show your nervousness. You should smile, try to speak calmly, and respond in a professional manner.

How do I adjust my answer level in personal interviews if I did not fully understand the question?

In order to improve your level of answering in a personal interview, if you are asked an incomprehensible question, you should do some things:

• You may ask for clarification of the question again in an appropriate manner.
• You can clarify the question with your previous experience, if any.
• Do not impose general and incomprehensible answers to the question.
• Don't underestimate yourself. You should be confident, but don't speak in an inappropriate way.

Frequently asked questions about the correct behavior when not answering in a personal interview

Can I ask for the question to be rephrased or clarified?

yesYou can ask for clarification of the question again or rephrase it in a simpler way.

How do I maintain my self-confidence despite not responding immediately?

In order to maintain your self-confidence despite your inability to answer quickly:

• Control your body language by smiling comfortably and taking a deep breath before speaking.
• Ask the other party for a little time to think.

Is it acceptable to be silent for a short period while thinking?

Yes, a short silence is acceptable in personal interviews as it gives the individual the ability to think of an appropriate response to the question asked and is better than a quick and inappropriate answer.

How do I use smart replies when I don't know the answer?

There are some phrases you can use when you can't answer a question directly:

• Sorry, I don't have a clear and precise answer to this.
• I'm sorry I've never dealt with something like this before.
• I don't have enough experience in this field.