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Which question is most likely to be asked during a stress interview?

a. Why are you leaving your current position and changing careers? What stresses do you anticipate with this job?
b. Mike and Todd have $21 between them. Mike has $20 more than Todd has. How much does Mike have, and how much does Todd have?
c. I see that you've had numerous jobs in the last five years. How can you possibly account for that?
d. Can you tell me about a time in the past when you used leadership skills to handle a difficult situation?

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The most likely stress interview question is 'c. I see that you've had numerous jobs in the last five years. How can you possibly account for that?' which probes into the candidate's job history under pressure. Stress interviews test how applicants handle stressful questions and use past behaviors to predict future performance, recommending preparation of STAR stories as an effective strategy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question most likely to be asked during a stress interview is 'c. I see that you've had numerous jobs in the last five years. How can you possibly account for that?' This particular question is designed to put pressure on the interviewee to explain their job history, thus creating a stressful situation which allows the interviewer to gauge the candidate's response to stress.

Stress interviews can include questions about career paths, challenges in the field, and questions that push the interviewee to reflect on past behaviors such as 'What are your strengths and weaknesses?' or 'Can you tell me about a time in the past when you used leadership skills to handle a difficult situation?' These are all gears toward understanding how an applicant may perform under pressure and whether they are a good fit for the role.

It is important for candidates to prepare for potential stress questions by considering how their experiences align with job requirements and to be ready to address any concerns the interviewer may have. Stress interviews seek to predict future performance based on past behavior and how candidates handle pressure. Thus, having STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories ready can be particularly effective.

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