Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,
I recently had an interview with a charity supporting people with disabilities. I disclosed my autism and anxiety in my application, and they were incredibly accommodating—they provided the questions in advance, which made the interview much more manageable. I didn't even have to ask! Although I didn't get the job, my experience was really positive with them.
While I’m always honest in interviews, my strategy of rehearsing answers word-for-word isn’t effective if unexpected questions come up. When this happens, I often get stuck.
How do you handle unexpected questions in interviews?
Also is my need to rehearse answers a form of masking?
No. it's being conscientious and polite. In my book of etiquette, anyway.
Try 3X5 cards with the salient points you want to express.
Wording should be a a bit fluid as it keeps one focused and prevents monologue-ing on tangents.
Which is my social skills-Achilles heel, anyway. Practice with a friend or family person beforehand to get the gist.