Interviewing Fear #1 - "They will ask me a question in which I don't know the answer"

Students frequently mention their fear of not knowing the answer to a question in an interview. Here are a few tips to prepare you for any interview questions that might come your way:

1. Know Your Resume
Your resume is the one thing during an interview that you have 100% control of. Make sure each piece of information you list is correct and true and that you update it on a consistent basis. Add new jobs, promotions, skills, technological skills, etc. so you always have an updated resume if you need to begin a new job search.

2. Review Skills and Job-Specific Materials
Before you interview, make sure you review your relevant job experience and skills for the particular position in which you are interested. If these skills and experiences are fresh in your mind, you will have easy ammunition to answer a question that might otherwise be difficult to answer during an interview.

• For Example: “Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult patient. How did you handle the situation?”
o When I worked as a Medical Assisting Extern at a Primary Care Facility in Charleston, I frequently had patients who were tired, sick and absolutely did not want to have to make a visit to the doctor. I made sure that I provided the best patient care by being friendly, positive and working as efficiently as possible to get the patient in, examined and out of the office as quickly as possible.

A quick review can prepare you for difficult questions that you may not otherwise be prepared to answer.

3. Research the Company
Always make sure you conduct thorough research for the company and position in which you are applying. This research will enable you to match your skills and experiences with the company’s needs and it shows an employer that you are truly interested in becoming an asset for their company. Remember…it isn’t what the company can do for you, it is what YOU can do FOR the company.


These are a few easy steps to prepare you for answering one of those tough interview questions asked by an employer. Remember: Talk with confidence and use your experiences through your training at school and your externship to give specific examples when answering questions.

-JT