Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • - Well, it seems that you check all the boxes.

  • Just one question,

  • do you work well under pressure?

  • - I think that I work really well under pressure.

  • In high stress environments especially -

  • - Do you work well under pressure?

  • This gotta be

  • one of the most uncomfortable interview questions there is.

  • Because it is a very tricky one.

  • There's so many job applicants that they make a huge mistake

  • when they are replying to this question.

  • So it is a very tricky one.

  • So think about why the supervisor, the manager,

  • why are they asking you this question?

  • They are assessing your decision making skill,

  • your problem solving skill

  • and how quickly you can think on your feet.

  • But more importantly,

  • they want to know are you a snowflake?

  • Are you gonna melt under pressure?

  • Are you gonna crack?

  • - Quick!

  • - Or are you gonna collapse when things get tough?

  • Can they count on you when things get tough?

  • That's actually what they are asking.

  • So here's what you don't want to say.

  • See, if you say no, obviously that's a bad answer.

  • But if you just say yes, that's also a bad answer.

  • You don't just want to say yes 'cause then it comes across,

  • well, everybody says yes,

  • how do I know you're not telling a lie?

  • And you don't want to exaggerate either.

  • So instead what you want to do, is you want to tell a story.

  • And you should rehearse

  • and have prepared this story ahead of the time.

  • So instead of just saying yes,

  • "So yes, I work well under pressure."

  • Well, how do I know? Right?

  • They don't know.

  • As far as they're concerned, you could be lying, right?

  • Instead you tell a story.

  • It could be a simple story like this.

  • "I remember when I was in college,

  • I was actually being put into a group of four.

  • And four of us, me and three other of my classmates

  • working on a project.

  • And we divided our responsibilities.

  • And we had one month working on this particular project.

  • And I was doing my part and they were doing their part.

  • And we had to get together just a few days

  • before the presentation,

  • because we all had to make a presentation

  • together as a group.

  • And I was sharing with them what I have done so far.

  • And two of my classmates

  • actually, didn't complete what they were supposed to do.

  • I was a little bit disappointed,

  • but knowing that we actually didn't have a lot of time.

  • So I had to, yes, burn some midnight oil

  • and kind of work on their part and finish

  • what they were supposed to be their responsibilities.

  • But I did it.

  • And then I actually had to be the one

  • that make the presentation,

  • and at the end, I got a B+ or A-

  • for that particular project."

  • You see the difference?

  • You are actually sharing a story

  • of how you have dealt with pressure.

  • How do you operate under pressure?

  • That's what they want to know.

  • So it could be something that you've done in college.

  • It could be something that you've done in sport, right?

  • If you actually play any kind of sports or you compete.

  • Or it could be something that from your previous job

  • that you have to make a presentation

  • or there's a very tight deadline

  • or you work with other people.

  • What have you done? Right?

  • Share that story.

  • Remember, facts tell but stories sell.

  • You wanna have some of those stories

  • in your kind of back pocket

  • So whenever you need it, you can just do it.

  • And within a story you wanna hit a few key points.

  • Number one,

  • how you have used your skills to handle the situation.

  • How you are taking responsibilities

  • and that you're not blaming, right?

  • You're not playing victims.

  • That's good to know for the supervisor, for the HR person.

  • That's very powerful to know, right?

  • Number three,

  • you kind of also wanna share what are the results, right?

  • What happens?

  • So you did this and this is how you handle it,

  • and here is the outcome.

  • So, now they can see the full journey.

  • So, don't just answer yes or no.

  • Prepare a couple of these stories.

  • And by the way, don't exaggerate.

  • Don't say, "Oh, I never feel stressed,

  • It is never a problem.

  • I can handle any situation.

  • I work very well under pressure."

  • No, that is a very bad answer.

  • It is much better to do that through storytelling.

  • One more tip that I want to give you

  • is when you finish that story,

  • you could also share what are some of things that you do

  • to relieve stress.

  • Because it's good to know,

  • then they know that you're kind of working on this

  • and you have an outlet.

  • Example, it is good for them to know

  • because then they know that you kind of have an outlet.

  • Maybe you will say,

  • "You know what, whenever I feel stressed,

  • I would go for a run

  • or I would do yoga

  • or I meditate daily"

  • Or whatever it is that you do.

  • Share that.

  • Because then they know

  • that you're not just the kind of person

  • that would balled up all your emotions

  • and take out all the pressure

  • and then you're gonna explode some day.

  • No, it's like,

  • "Hey you know what, I have an outlet.

  • I have a hobby that when I do that, it release my stress."

  • So they know, okay, you are a healthy person mentally.

  • So the key to handle this question,

  • do you work well under pressure?

  • Is to have a well-crafted,

  • well-rehearsed story that you could share.

  • By the way, comment below and share your story.

  • How you've handled a scenario?

  • How you've handled a stressful scenario?

  • How you overcome those scenarios?

  • And how you work well under pressure

  • and get some feedback from all my viewers

  • from all over the world.

  • So you could perfect that story.

  • For more tools, resources and in-depth training

  • on communication,

  • on influencing,

  • head over to danlokshop.com,

  • and that is danlokshop.com,

  • I'll also put a link below

  • and check out some of the training that we have

  • that can help you to unlock a better version of yourself.

- Well, it seems that you check all the boxes.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it