How to Answer Questions on a Structured Oral Interview

Whether you are in an interview for a job or a situation that calls for you to answer structured questions, it's important to work on your oral and listening skills. Interviewers are usually very patient, so don't feel like you need to rush without taking some time to answer in a thorough yet concise manner. It's a fine line between being too wordy and too brief. Answering structured questions is a skill and like any skill it takes time and practice to cultivate and become proficient.

Instructions

1. Listen to the interviewer carefully as they ask you a question and ask questions back to make sure you are going to answer the question in the right way. It's important for you to understand the question in order to stay on track. It's fine if you need clarification before you answer. You still want the interviewer to know that you understand parts of the question. When you inquire back, try giving the interviewer options. Don't just say "I don't understand." or "Can you repeat the question?" Expand a bit on the parts of the question you don't understand. This shows you are listening and can think on your feet.

2. Take a few seconds to gather your thoughts. Your answer will come out more eloquently if you pause before you start to speak. This will also help minimize the um's and ah's that inevitably come out when people speak without thinking first.

3. The first part of your answer should let the interviewer know that you understood the question. If the question is "How much experience have you had working with spreadsheets," you might begin your you answer with the following: "Regarding my spreadsheet experience, I have quite a bit to offer."

4. The second part should should state the general answer. This is a good place for the skills you possess. At this point your interviewer will probably start writing, so you want to be concise and get to the point. List your skills and special talents in the area of the question.

5. The last part of the answer should be a specific examples. Tell the interviewer about a time you solved a problem or issue utilizing the the skill. This gives them a real life, tangible idea of your skill set.

6. If you do not have the skill or experience they question calls for, turn it around and quickly find a similar skill you can offer in it's place. Be careful not to stray too far form what they are looking for. For example, if they are looking for someone with training experience and you haven't been a formal trainer, talk about a time that you trained a new employee on skills. Taking a moment to assess your experience prior to the interview will give you a better perspective of what you've really done in your career. Sometimes you have experience that you take for granted.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have the skill or experience they question calls for, turn it around and quickly find a similar skill you can offer in it's place. Be careful not to stray too far from what they are looking for. For example, if they are looking for someone with training experience and you haven't been a formal trainer, talk about a time that you trained a new employee on skills. Taking a moment to assess your experience prior to the interview will give you a better perspective of what you've really done in your career. Sometimes you have experience that you take for granted.

• Never lie about your experience.