Employers want to know how you deal with stress at work.
be Research conducted by isolvedAt , a human resources software company, 65% of employees say they suffered from burnout in the last year. What’s more, 72% of employees admit that burnout has affected their performance. The stress and burnout epidemic is real. This is one reason employers often ask interviewers, “How do you deal with stress?” Other versions of this question include, “How do you perform under pressure?” and “How do you keep from getting into a situation where the stress is too much for you to handle?”
As chronic work stress continues to skyrocket, companies want to ensure their employees are prepared to deal with difficult situations head on. By asking, “How do you deal with stress?” recruiters learn a lot, including:
- Are you motivated in stressful situations?
- How to deal with stress outside of work
- How will your response impact your team and the organization as a whole?
The key is to show that you can deal with stress in a positive way and be a long-term asset to the company. These tips will help you effectively answer the question, “How do you deal with stress?” and ultimately land the job.
Be honest and positive
If you answer, “I’ve never been stressed,” the recruiter will realize you’re not being honest. After all, everyone experiences work stress at one time or another. Instead, be positive and sincere. When giving specific examples, focus on how you used your problem-solving skills to succeed. Use your answer to demonstrate the value you bring to the organization. Spending a positive light on a bad situation shows you’re self-aware and sets you apart from other candidates.
Take your time to craft your story
Before your interview, think back to a time when you faced a stressful situation at work. Ask yourself these questions:
- What led up to this incident?
- Is there anything you would do differently?
- Did you learn anything from this experience?
Next, list the skills you’ve used to overcome pressure situations. Examples of transferable skills include a strong work ethic, time management, communication, resilience, and teamwork. Then, use the power of storytelling to create a structured response. The STAR method works well for behavioral questions.
situation: Set the stage for your story
taskOutline your objectives:
actionPlease explain what action you took.
result: Conclude your answer on a positive note
Show how stress motivated or inspired you to take action, and don’t forget to conclude your story with a lesson learned, so you focus not only on the outcome, but also on your ability to grow professionally.
Tailor your response to the job
Tailoring your answers will make them more effective. When preparing for an interview, Examine the company cultureDoes your organization value teamwork and collaboration, or does it emphasize individual achievement? Do leaders encourage innovation, or do they value structure and stability? These answers can help you identify examples of stressful situations related to the job you’re seeking. Most importantly, share stories that highlight the stressors you’re most likely to encounter in your new role.
Example Answer
When thinking up a story, try to focus on the positive, explaining how you overcame an obstacle. Here are some examples for inspiration:
Example 1:
I believe stress can motivate you to do your best work. For example, my boss recently gave me an important piece of work at the last minute. Instead of panicking, I used my organization and planning skills to prioritize what I needed to tackle first. By rearranging my other tasks, I was able to find time to work on all elements of the project. I stayed calm and focused, and was able to deliver everything I needed to by the deadline.
Example 2:
When I find myself in a stressful situation, I try to stay focused on the task at hand. For example, I recently had to deal with an angry customer. Instead of getting upset, I used my communication skills to calm the customer down and find a common understanding. I then got another team member to help us solve the problem. In the end, the customer was happy with the outcome and gave me a great review.
Example 3:
As a manager, I accept the fact that some level of stress is part of the job. For example, one of my team members recently quit. She didn’t give me much advance notice, so I had to quickly reallocate her workload. I had been practicing stress reduction techniques like exercise and meditation, which helped me stay calm and focused. Doing so allowed me to support the rest of my team while delegating the work to the right people. I was also able to draft a job description and post it on multiple sites within a day or two. Now, I have a short list of highly qualified external candidates and a few internal employees who are interested in the position.
Even if you’re not a firefighter or paramedic, most employees need some level of stress tolerance to remain productive. Employers don’t expect their employees to never get stressed; they want to know that their employees can work effectively when stressed and have access to effective coping strategies.
