Interview Question: Dealing with High-Pressure Situations

Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation

Contents

1 Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation
2 Other interview questions that are similar
3 What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question
4 How Best To Structure Your Answer To This Question
5 What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions
6 Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation – Example answers
7 Other Interview Question and Answers

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

There are probably an infinite number of questions that the interviewer could ask you on the day. Some questions are incredibly common appearing in almost every interview you will have, while other questions you might hear once and never again regardless of how many jobs you apply for.

Fundamentally though all interview questions are really trying to find out one of 3 things:

1 – Can you do the job? (Do you have the skills/experience needed?)
2 – Will you do the job? (Do you have the drive/motivation to get the job done?)
3 – Will you fit in? (Does your personality match the workplace culture? Are you likeable?)

That’s it. Those are the 3 things that the interviewer is trying to ascertain. Every question that is asked of you will fundamentally be trying to resolve one (or more) of these 3 things.

So, when you’re asked a question like “tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation,” it’s not just about showcasing your problem-solving skills or your ability to work under pressure. This question is multifaceted. It’s probing to see if you possess the skills and experience to handle challenging tasks (Can you do the job?), it’s assessing your motivation and commitment in stressful situations (Will you do the job?), and it’s gauging how you interact with others and manage stress, which is crucial to understanding if you’ll blend into the team or company culture (Will you fit in?).

Your response to this question should therefore be structured to subtly address these three underlying queries. By recounting a specific high-pressure situation, outlining the steps you took to resolve it, and reflecting on what you learned, you’re not just answering the question. You’re also providing the interviewer with a window into your professional competence, work ethic, and interpersonal skills. In essence, your answer is a narrative that demonstrates your suitability for the job across these three fundamental dimensions.

How Best To Structure Your Answer To This Question

Unless the question you are asked is a straight ‘up or down / yes or no’ style question then you are going to need to learn to describe, expand and elaborate on your answers. The best way of doing this is to follow the B-STAR technique for answering interview questions.

Answers using this method follow the below structure:

B – Belief – What are your thoughts and feelings with regard to the subject matter? Regarding handling high-pressure situations, it’s important to communicate your perspective on dealing with stress and challenges, as this reveals your resilience and attitude towards difficult tasks, which is what the interviewer is looking to understand.

S – Situation – What was going on? Briefly explain the scenario that was taking place. In this step, succinctly setting the scene of a high-pressure situation you encountered directly correlates to the interviewer’s quest to understand your experience in similar situations.

T – Task – What was your role in the action? Most of the time it is best that you are taking an active rather than passive role in the encounter. Relating your specific role in a high-pressure situation demonstrates your ability to take charge, showing the interviewer that you are not only capable of doing the job but also committed to it.

A – Activity (or action) – What did you do? Detail the steps you took and why you took them. This part, focusing on your actions during a high-pressure situation, is key to illustrating your problem-solving skills and adaptability, crucial traits for any role.

R – Result – How did everything end up? Try to use figures if possible. Concluding with the outcome, especially with quantifiable achievements, helps the interviewer gauge the effectiveness of your actions in a high-pressure scenario and your contribution to positive results.

Remember though that the B-STAR technique is descriptive not prescriptive. You do not need to follow this flow strictly, go with what is best for your answers and that will allow you to put your point across and show your experience the best.

What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions

Do not avoid the question – Address it directly to show you can handle pressure.
Do not downplay the situation – Accurately represent the challenge to demonstrate your competence.
Do not overhype the situation – Stay truthful to maintain credibility.
Do not have a passive role in the situation – Highlight your active involvement to show initiative.
Do not overly describe the scenario and miss the action – Focus on your actions and decisions.
Do not give vague responses – Be specific about your actions and their impact.
Do not skip the outcome – Conclude with the results to showcase effectiveness.

Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation – Example answers

Example Answer 1

“I’ve always believed that high-pressure situations are opportunities to prove one’s abilities. In my last role as a project manager, we faced a critical situation where a key client project was at risk of missing the deadline due to unforeseen technical issues. The client was significant for our company, and failing to deliver on time could have damaged our reputation.

The situation was tense; we had only two weeks left to resolve the issues and complete the project. As the lead, my task was to not only coordinate the team’s efforts to solve the technical problems but also to communicate effectively with the client to manage their expectations.

I immediately organized a series of problem-solving sessions with the technical team and identified the critical areas that required immediate attention. I delegated tasks based on each team member’s strengths and set up daily progress meetings to ensure we were on track. Simultaneously, I maintained transparent and regular communication with the client, updating them on our progress and the measures we were taking.

The team worked diligently, often putting in extra hours. Thanks to our coordinated efforts, we not only resolved the technical issues but also managed to deliver the project a day ahead of the deadline. The client was extremely satisfied with our responsiveness and the quality of the final product, leading to a 20% increase in future business from them.

This experience reaffirmed my belief in facing challenges head-on and the importance of teamwork, clear communication, and strong leadership in high-pressure situations.”

Interview Question: Dealing with High-Pressure Situations – Answer Tips

Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation

Other interview questions that are similar

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

How Best To Structure Your Answer To This Question

What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions

Tell me about a time you had to handle a high-pressure situation – Example answers

Example Answer 1

Example Answer 2

More Sample Answers…

Other Interview Question and Answers