How to Answer: How do You Work Under Pressure?
Here are some questions that you may be asked by an interviewer to demonstrate to them how you work under pressure. We’ve also included some advice on how to keep your nerve during an interview.
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 15 Dec 2020
Whether you’re working in a junior role or are working at an executive level, every job comes with some sort of pressure.
A potential employer will want to be sure that you can remain calm and focused under pressure instead of losing your head when things get crazy or when they aren’t going the way they were planned.
Here are some questions that you may be asked by an interviewer to demonstrate to them how you work under pressure. We’ve also included some advice on how to keep your nerve during an interview.
Why employers want to know how you work under pressure
Pressure in work is often caused by events that are out of your control; staffing, budget or time constraints. A lack of knowledge could be the cause or a delay in a third party supplying information or products could be holding things up.
And while everyone reacts differently to pressure - some thrive off it while others can buckle under it, the employer will need to know if how you react fits in with their environment. For example, if the company is fast-paced and frequently you’ll have to ‘think on your feet’, someone who is a fast-thinker and adaptable under pressure will be better suited to the role.
When asked, ‘How do you work under pressure?’ the interviewer will be looking for more than a ‘Great’ or ‘OK’ answer. They’ll want to hear how you approach pressured situations and how you’ve had to apply this in previous jobs. An in-depth answer will also show the employer what other strengths or soft-skills you have, such as communication, time-management or organisation skills.
Type of questions you may be asked (with an example answer)
The interviewer may ask you directly ‘How do you work under pressure?’ or they could ask you indirectly with questions like:
- “How would you approach making a presentation to important clients with one day’s notice?”
- “What’s the most pressured situation you’ve faced at work? How did you handle it?”
- “How do you manage a situation so that it doesn’t affect your performance?”
- “How do you deal with frequent changes at work? For example, if members of your team leave mid-project?”
- “Tell me about a time when you’ve had to make a quick decision at work? How did you know you were doing the right thing?”
Example answer to ‘How do you work under pressure?’
“The more experienced I become, the easier I’m finding it to deal with pressure. Early in my career, I found I didn’t perform my best under pressure. Realising I needed to improve, I put strategies in place so I can approach the situation with a clear thought process. This is so I can make decisive decisions and not become overwhelmed with stress.
In my previous job, a colleague and I were given a big project to work on with a very short deadline. Unfortunately, my colleague became ill, and I had to work on it on my own. Instead of panicking, I drew up a list of essential tasks and prioritised these. I planned my time effectively, ensuring I took regular short breaks and blocked out distractions. I completed the project on time and it received great feedback.”
Related: 20 Toughest Interview Questions
Tips for answering ‘How do you work under pressure?’
You’re aware of your ability to be productive and efficient under pressure, but you’ve got to convince the employer of this. To make it clear to them, consider these points:
Be truthful
If you know that you’re not perfect at handling pressure, don’t lie and say that you thrive under pressure. If you get the job, it will soon become clear you don’t. Turn what could be a negative into a positive - say that you know that you need to improve on this and that you’re working on getting better at it.
Emphasise your answer with an example
The interviewer will need to be able to relate to your answer for it to mean something to them. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result) will help you explain the circumstances behind the situation, what your role was, the action you took and the end result that was achieved.
Using the STAR method, you’ll be able to clearly and concisely answer the question without rambling your way through it and confusing the interviewer.
Be aware of your body language
The subconscious movements and gestures that your body makes can be a signal of how you’re feeling or what you’re thinking. Speaking with a clear and level voice will indicate that you're feeling calm and confident. Whereas moving around in the chair or avoiding eye-contact could show you’re feeling nervous or intimated.
Keeping your cool when under pressure in the interview
It doesn’t matter how confident you feel before the interview. It’s easy for nerves and self-doubt to kick in just as you’re about to start the interview.
To show your best self to the interviewer, keep your focus on the interview and don’t let your mind drift to thinning about getting the job, as this only places extra pressure on yourself.
Research the company - understand what products or services they offer, what markets they work in and determine what the company culture is like. A lot of this information can be found on the company’s website and their Glassdoor company page. Also, try to find what type of interview questions they tend to ask. You can search for this on Glassdoor’s Interview Questions section.
Finally, make sure you’re interview-ready well ahead of the scheduled time. This can mean selecting your outfit, planning your route to the office or choosing an appropriate setting for your virtual interview.
A potential employer will want to be sure that you can remain calm and focused under pressure instead of losing your head when things get crazy or when they aren’t going the way they were planned.
Here are some questions that you may be asked by an interviewer to demonstrate to them how you work under pressure. We’ve also included some advice on how to keep your nerve during an interview.
Why employers want to know how you work under pressure
Pressure in work is often caused by events that are out of your control; staffing, budget or time constraints. A lack of knowledge could be the cause or a delay in a third party supplying information or products could be holding things up.
And while everyone reacts differently to pressure - some thrive off it while others can buckle under it, the employer will need to know if how you react fits in with their environment. For example, if the company is fast-paced and frequently you’ll have to ‘think on your feet’, someone who is a fast-thinker and adaptable under pressure will be better suited to the role.
When asked, ‘How do you work under pressure?’ the interviewer will be looking for more than a ‘Great’ or ‘OK’ answer. They’ll want to hear how you approach pressured situations and how you’ve had to apply this in previous jobs. An in-depth answer will also show the employer what other strengths or soft-skills you have, such as communication, time-management or organisation skills.
Type of questions you may be asked (with an example answer)
The interviewer may ask you directly ‘How do you work under pressure?’ or they could ask you indirectly with questions like:
- “How would you approach making a presentation to important clients with one day’s notice?”
- “What’s the most pressured situation you’ve faced at work? How did you handle it?”
- “How do you manage a situation so that it doesn’t affect your performance?”
- “How do you deal with frequent changes at work? For example, if members of your team leave mid-project?”
- “Tell me about a time when you’ve had to make a quick decision at work? How did you know you were doing the right thing?”
Example answer to ‘How do you work under pressure?’
“The more experienced I become, the easier I’m finding it to deal with pressure. Early in my career, I found I didn’t perform my best under pressure. Realising I needed to improve, I put strategies in place so I can approach the situation with a clear thought process. This is so I can make decisive decisions and not become overwhelmed with stress.
In my previous job, a colleague and I were given a big project to work on with a very short deadline. Unfortunately, my colleague became ill, and I had to work on it on my own. Instead of panicking, I drew up a list of essential tasks and prioritised these. I planned my time effectively, ensuring I took regular short breaks and blocked out distractions. I completed the project on time and it received great feedback.”
Related: 20 Toughest Interview Questions
Tips for answering ‘How do you work under pressure?’
You’re aware of your ability to be productive and efficient under pressure, but you’ve got to convince the employer of this. To make it clear to them, consider these points:
Be truthful
If you know that you’re not perfect at handling pressure, don’t lie and say that you thrive under pressure. If you get the job, it will soon become clear you don’t. Turn what could be a negative into a positive - say that you know that you need to improve on this and that you’re working on getting better at it.
Emphasise your answer with an example
The interviewer will need to be able to relate to your answer for it to mean something to them. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result) will help you explain the circumstances behind the situation, what your role was, the action you took and the end result that was achieved.
Using the STAR method, you’ll be able to clearly and concisely answer the question without rambling your way through it and confusing the interviewer.
Be aware of your body language
The subconscious movements and gestures that your body makes can be a signal of how you’re feeling or what you’re thinking. Speaking with a clear and level voice will indicate that you're feeling calm and confident. Whereas moving around in the chair or avoiding eye-contact could show you’re feeling nervous or intimated.
Keeping your cool when under pressure in the interview
It doesn’t matter how confident you feel before the interview. It’s easy for nerves and self-doubt to kick in just as you’re about to start the interview.
To show your best self to the interviewer, keep your focus on the interview and don’t let your mind drift to thinning about getting the job, as this only places extra pressure on yourself.
Research the company - understand what products or services they offer, what markets they work in and determine what the company culture is like. A lot of this information can be found on the company’s website and their Glassdoor company page. Also, try to find what type of interview questions they tend to ask. You can search for this on Glassdoor’s Interview Questions section.
Finally, make sure you’re interview-ready well ahead of the scheduled time. This can mean selecting your outfit, planning your route to the office or choosing an appropriate setting for your virtual interview.
Glassdoor Team
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