How do you handle stressful situations interview question

When I look at the situation from the outside, I can see far more clearly what needs to be done without getting stressed. I also have planning procedures to always have a backup plan if unexpected things happen. Instead of watching that and feeling her stress, which would put more stress on me and everyone else, I knew that we had to come together and help each other. So I asked the team what they could do to help take some load off for her and take some of her tasks on.

Basically, being attentive to the environment helps me to manage stressful situations. As long as there is more than one plan to get something done — so always having a backup plan or two — I feel like I never get stressed or overwhelmed.

There is always a way to make it work. Because we can stay more clear and see the bigger picture, rather than get overwhelmed with the energy.

Sign in. Key takeaways: Employers ask this question to determine how you might handle challenging situations that come with the job. Explain the tools, methods and techniques you use to work under pressure. Use the STAR response technique to offer a specific example of a time you handled stress well. Why employers ask about how you handle stress.

Is motivated by healthy pressure and uses it to produce quality, efficient work Avoids stress by planning ahead and prioritizing work Keeps open lines of transparent, constructive communication with managers and colleagues Has healthy boundaries Takes note of their stressors and reactive tendencies to work on areas of improvement. How to answer interview questions about stress. Spend some time thinking about how you approach stress.

What were the causes of the stressful situation? If you contributed to creating a stressful situation, what could you have done differently to avoid it? What was your reaction like? How did you reduce or mitigate the stress? If you could react to that situation again, what would you have done differently?

In what ways did stress help or hurt your work? Not only was I able to finish both tasks quickly and efficiently, but it gave me a lot of satisfaction every time I checked things off of the assignment list. While I personally enjoy a bit of stress in the job as I love a challenge, I know that stress in a team can be a problem as not everyone feels that way.

A few months ago, we had a big project come through that meant a lot to the company. We divided up the project and I assigned parts to each of my team members. At first things were going well, but then I noticed a serious slow down in productivity. I went to each team member and spoke with them individually, trying to see where the slowdown was happening. I found that one person on the team had accepted a task they were struggling with.

The team member and I put in some extra hours working on that task together and managed to bring the whole project back on schedule. A good team is one where everything is well balanced, and that includes stress levels.

I have a lot of people answering to me and stress from my level can filter down through the entire company and cause a lot of issues. Or, contact us directly:. Menu Do I need coaching? Follow these steps when considering your response: 1.

Understand why the interviewer is asking the question Before you start thinking about how you'll answer the question, think about why the interviewer is asking it in the first place. Make a list of your soft skills Before you start recounting various times you've experienced stress or pressure at work, make a list of your soft skills.

A few soft skills you might use to address stress or pressure at work include: Adaptability Communication Time management Organization Leadership Problem-solving Even though the interviewer wants to see how you overcome stress, they're also interested in learning more about your soft skills, so keep these in mind. Add context to these skills with a relevant, impactful example Now that you know what soft skills you can highlight, start thinking about the times you've experienced stress or pressure at work.

Focus on your positive actions, not your negative feelings When it comes to stress, it's easy to get caught in its emotion — the frustration, the panic, the dread. Don't deny your stress If you pretend you don't experience stress in your job, your interviewer won't buy it. Example answers: How do you handle stress?

Here's your first example: I was recently assigned a last-minute project. Here's another example: I don't like to let stress take over a situation.

Here's a final example: I've found that a healthy amount of stress motivates me to stay on track and work as efficiently and effectively as possible. Need a prep talk? Learn how to crush your interview with confidence. Get started. Share this article:. We can help. Or, contact us directly: contact topinterview. Name required. Order number optional.