What do you say when you do not know an answer to a question in a job interview?

Answer 1

About all you can do is to answer that you do not know the answer.

Answer2: It may happen, but if you prepare yourself by doing research of the company on the internet before the interview, chances are this will not happen. Also make sure you know the facts you have written down on your resume before the interview so much can be answered from memory.

Answer 2

It depends on what kind of interviewer: for a job, for a news article?

For a job interview, you should say "That is a very good question. I would like to do a little research on that and get back to you."

For a news interview, you should always have sound bites prepared in advance regarding the subject of the interview. For example, 5 or 6 key points you want to drive home in the story or article. Then, when you are stumped on a question, or don't want to answer it for some reason, you should be prepared to switch the subject to make or reiterate one of your key points.

E.g. "I don't know about that [subject you don't want to address], but it is important to understand [key point you want to underscore]."

Your redirect point does NOT need to have anything to do with the question asked.

By the way, when addressing a group of people and you are asked a question you don't know the answer to, the classic facilitor response is to turn the question back to the audience and say. "What do YOU all think one should do in that situation?" and harness the collective experiences of the group. It works like a charm every time.

Answer 3

No comment.

I dont wish to answer that question on the grounds that I may prejudice my other answers.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE QUESTION AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INTERVIEW.

Answer 4

Im not compleatly sure of that, but I well find out for you.