Ace the interview question: how do you work under pressure?

How to answer "How do you work under pressure?" in a job interview

"How do you work under pressure?" is a classic interview question.

To answer it well, you have to think about why the interviewer is asking it.

The question is a useful way to figure out how responsive you are when a lot is asked of you and you're under strain. Interviewers want to know whether or not you can be relied upon to think for yourself and take the initiative, and if you're good at time management or not. They want to be assured you won't freak out and freeze up when faced with a bunch of different demands.

So, what should you say when they ask how you work under pressure?

A good answer is split into two parts.

Firstly, tell them what your approach is to pressure. Then, give an example of how you applied this thinking in a previous high-pressure situation.

You might say "I love it!" and explain how you thrive when you're under pressure and get motivated to perform at your highest level. Then tell them about a time you powered through a difficult situation when things got tense and ended up achieving something great.

Or you could explain how you like to pause, take stock of your priorities, and get everything written down into a clear plan before proceeding to systematically work through them. Then tell them about a time you calmly prioritized your tasks and succeeded despite multiple demands requiring your attention.

The important thing is to show yourself in a positive light, while also being honest. Don't mention how you like to leave things to the last minute, but do say that you're not afraid of a tight deadline and work best when things have a defined due date.

Giving a good answer isn't about canned lines or blatantly rehearsed answers. Be prepared for common interview questions by finding a few examples of difficult projects or professional roles in which you succeeded. The interview process is your time to shine. Make sure you have concrete answers that showcase your actual performance and ability to work when it's crunch time.

Strong answers for "How do you work under pressure?"

Here's an example of a student who likes to collaborate and 'crowdsource' her problem-solving during a stressful situation.

"I prefer to deal with issues proactively and get as much help as possible rather than tackling things myself.

Back when I was a student, I was in charge of organizing a group presentation for my biology class. We only had a week to do it and there were five people on our team. Two dropped out due to illness so we had to take over some extra tasks while they were away. After a few moments of feeling overwhelmed, I decided to take the lead and redistributed tasks around the team to make sure everything got done on time. I made sure to get everyone else's agreement on what was most important to deal with first. We finished later than we would have liked, but it still got done, and we got an A grade, which was great."

Here's a sample answer from a professional who likes to take ownership under pressure and do things themselves.

"I prefer to give my full attention to the most significant problem and solve it first, before moving on to other things.

When I was an operations manager for a retail chain selling toys & games, we had huge problems with our supply chain leading up to Christmas one year. We were faced with empty shelves for popular products leading up to the busiest shopping season of the year. I didn't need to be told how devastating this would be for the business and our customers, so I made it my priority to prevent it. I delegated my usual tasks, blocked off my calendar for two days, and spent them calling every supplier in the area making new stock deals. While my usual work suffered a little, we got about 80% of the stock we wanted, and it turned out to be one of our most successful festive retail periods ever."

Interviewers might ask further questions about the specifics of the situations, so make sure you're being honest and truthful, and expect a follow-up question.

It's actually a little self-referential: answering this question puts you under pressure. Thankfully, with a little forethought, you'll be able to answer it with a natural, reassuring, calm demeanor.

One way to gain an advantage in answering the "under pressure" question is to show your capabilities while answering it. So while you're telling potential employers about your coping skills, you're also showing them by being a relaxed, calm, and positive person who's thoughtful without being too hesitant.

Self-care is paramount when you're preparing for an interview. You'll want to reduce stress as much as possible, which means getting yourself on a healthy sleep schedule a couple of days in advance and limiting alcohol, caffeine, and junk food in the run-up to it. Shake off those nerves by doing some exercise or deep breathing the morning before. Talk to someone you trust about your worries, so they're not rattling around in your head.

By taking good care of yourself, you'll be in the right frame and your body will support your mind when the pressure's on so you can land that job you want.

What are five valuable skills to help you work under pressure?

Working effectively under pressure is a crucial skill in today's fast-paced world. Here are five valuable strategies to help you thrive when the stakes are high:

How do you handle pressure? Here are five strategies for dealing with it.

1. Write things down. Get your worries out of your head and onto paper (or your computer) because there's a limit to your brain capacity. Writing them down can alleviate the vicious cycle of overthinking. You can't let a load of different projects bounce around your head demanding attention without impacting your ability to focus.

It's not just the technical aspects of your tasks that need noting down, but your feelings about them. What's blocking your progress? What aren't you enjoying? Even if you don't figure out the answers straight away, getting them out of your head will help you feel much better. It might even lead to fresh perspectives on a challenging project.

2. Break things down into small tasks. Pressure can feel unbearable if you're looking at the big picture. With a little change in perspective, your tasks can seem way more doable.

By breaking down your important tasks into small chunks, you can work out which part is causing you the most anxiety and tackle it head-on. You'll also benefit from the small 'wins' when you can cross something small off your to-do list. Each task completed - even if it's an easy one - is a reminder that you're capable of getting things done.

3. Prioritize. When things are getting overwhelming, it's easy for your plans to go out the window, but they're the most important part of your toolkit. At the same time, having a flexible approach is a key skill when it comes to prioritizing. Halfway through a big project, you might realize that things have changed, so you need to reshuffle your priorities.

If you work on the biggest, most important problem first - and then work your way down from there - it's easier to manage your stress levels. Without the big issue looming over you, you'll have a clear mind that's better equipped to deal with the rest of your work.

4. Stop procrastinating. Yes, before you say anything - it is easier said than done. But pressured environments make it even easier than usual to put certain things on the back burner. And putting things off 'til tomorrow is a sure-fire way to eventually drown in work overload.

So this strategy is about addressing your procrastination as much as anything - taking a few moments to really examine why you're avoiding a certain task. Is it too scary? Too much work? Too boring? Take some time to get your thoughts together and make a plan to tackle the unappetizing things first. Once you stop procrastinating, you'll find yourself on a roll, and you'll soon be on your way to being in control.

5. Don't go at it alone. Ask for help if you need it. In a busy environment, it's not always easy for others to see that you're struggling. Having open communication about your wellbeing and work capacity can relieve a bit of stress. Colleagues, friends, or fellow students should all be willing to give you help if things aren't progressing as they should.

In the workplace, it's important to let your manager know if you're getting snowed under. It's their job to get the best out of you, and if they want to keep you at your most productive, they'll have to offer you some support.

If you're under persistent pressure that feels overwhelming all the time, you might need to make more significant changes to your responsibilities - we'll go over this in more detail below.

Effective solutions for your career journey

If you're looking to develop your skills to deal with pressure more effectively, coaching can help. Fingerprint For Success is a professional and personal development platform that offers tools for impactful communication, happiness, and vital wellbeing, just to name a few.

Our free assessment takes about 20 minutes to complete. You'll gain instant access to your results so you can see your areas of greatest strengths—we call them motivations.

You'll gain a greater understanding of how you prefer to work, what tasks drain your energy, and what lights you up. Knowing this can set you up for more success. Plus, you can develop your soft skills that are less prevalent with our AI Coach Marlee.

For situations where you'd benefit from thinking on your feet, try the Start Fast program. If you'd like to develop your sense of calm in the middle of a storm, try Reflection & Patience. And if you'd like to be the one taking the reins during challenging times, Personal Power will help you develop the confidence to step up and be a leader.