How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure At Your Workplace?

How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure?

Corporate interview questions can be elementary to guess but not to answer. There are repetitive and similar questions, yet the managers look for something different and unique every time they seek an answer. One common question is, “How do you handle work stress?.” The question may seem very straightforward yet a bit tricky to face during your interview. Of course, you cannot choose to say that you don’t feel exhausted or stressed at all. The response must not be unrealistic. It should be relatable, easy, and genuine. 

It is always a smart move to be ready with a remarkable comeback. Good preparation is a suitable strategy to handle the same. Many people find it very easy to answer, and this is where they lack behind in the race. There are several candidates for the same position, and you must give them a powerful reason to select you and feel proud afterward. 

Multiple Forms of the Interview Question: How Do You Handle Your Stress and Pressure?

The question can be a direct or an indirect form in the interview. So, what are the other ways to ask?

• How do you cope with the corporate work pressure?
• How do you handle pressure at work?
• What are your ways of dealing with work stress?
• What is your idea of dealing with stress and pressure at work?
• How do you deal with stressful work situations?

These are the most common forms of the question. Whatever they ask, you must understand the meaning of their question and then move ahead to respond. It is counted as one of the most general mistakes of the interviewee that they tend to jump with responses without understanding the question well.  

What does the Interview Panel Want To Know?

While taking your interview, the panel sitting on the other side of the desk looks for the overall persona, not just the quality of answers. They are looking for the up-to-the-mark candidate with the right skills and intelligence to deal with the work pressure. Many people can perform well in happy-happy situations but lose their tendency for excellence when working under pressure. 

Similarly, some people find it challenging to cope with the work stress, which gets very bad for them. It can affect their mental and physical health, adding to their awful work performance. 

Furthermore, the quality of working under pressure is unique and valuable. The panel knows about the multiple tough situations at work, and to see whether you can handle them well, they ask this popular question. You can make a difference by answering it well. After all, it is thinking logically and acting calmly in not-so-favorable situations. 

You can convince them by giving a set of accurate answers, mixed with analytical skills and your key characteristics. It can make a difference and increase your chances of selection over the other candidates. 

How to Answer “How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure?

It is a daunting task to convince your hiring managers about your capability to work under stressful situations. You may be the right one, but the skill is to convince them with the same. Here are a few points that you must consider,

• Come Prepared

Yes, there are some aspects to consider while creating your response. It is equally essential to be prepared with the correct information about yourself. Try to mention your interpersonal skills in front of your recruiters. We all have some but different interpersonal skills, and integrating those skills to cope with the work pressure is an ideal strategy. It is also a preferable way to raise the interest of your recruiters in your answer.

• Appear Upbeat

Hiring managers usually consider a candidate with a cheerful personality. Positivity is infectious! It spreads psychologically in all possible directions. When managers choose the right fit for the role, they want to determine who can quickly get along with coworkers, clients, and bosses. Try to smile (don’t overdo it!), and relate with your interviewers. People who can change negativity into positivity are considered great corporate players. 

• Mention Your Stress Management Skills

The utmost crucial! Here you need to explain your stress management strategy and techniques to throw the right impression. While you mention other skills and how you use them to organize your work, it is imperative to tell them about your stress management skills. After all, the question is all about that! They still need approval and confirmation if you continue to say, “I do this…” or “I do that…”.

• Use the STAR Method

A prevalent technique!

STAR stands for, 

S – Situation

T – Task

A – Action

R – Result

It has been a well-known strategy to crack interviews and related situations. You must adapt and act accordingly. A question is nothing but a situation where you need to apply the appropriate methodology to break it. After that, you can discuss your course of action and outcomes. Briefly mention your thoughts and professionally structure them. 

Points To Avoid

1. Don’t Go for Denial

In the way of being confident, do not overdo anything. Stress is a common aspect of human behavior that can affect you anytime. Do not deny it. Some people may want to say, “I do not get stressed at all,” or “I do not take pressure because I organize my tasks well.” Everyone gets stressed, and instead of denying it, you must try to incorporate your precious stressful experience into professional words. 

2.   Avoid Negativity

Avoid getting negative, not only with words but with actions too. Follow the professional ethics while giving the interview and nail it most accurately. Do not say anything that may make you sound rude or unmannerly. Moreover, make the right and respectful posture while sitting and conversing with them. 

3. Don’t Overburden Yourself

Stressing yourself is not a solution to anything! When you are answering a question about stress and getting stressed, you contradict yourself. Be calm and composed with a positive attitude. Preparation plays a significant role here. It makes you confident. Keep reminding yourself, “I can do it.”

4. Keep Away From Confusion

When facing the interview panel, several kinds of emotions may hit, and you get confused. Make your strategies and thoughts strong beforehand to avoid unnecessary stress and confusion. Listen to the question carefully, and respond accordingly. Be positive and allow yourself to explore different ideas of corporate procedures. 

After discussing the different aspects of answering the interview question, “how do you handle the stress and pressure?” we are here to help you with some of the best responses.

Take a look!

• Coping up with work stress is something that I learned with time. I have gone through some stressful situations at my work. Initially, it was not so easy to deal with, then time by time, I started learning. I had to deliver a significant task under a given deadline in my previous organization, and it was a stressful situation. I experienced it for the first time and gained a lot. After realizing this, I started improving myself. Now, I apply different strategies to manage stress, including time, work speed, and analytical skills, and they work well. I discover myself in complex situations and react accordingly. I approach the work pressure with a positive mindset to crack the deal.
• I see work pressure positively. It works for me in multiple ways. Since my college days, I tend to perform better under pressure while submitting my assignments under the given strict deadlines, which made “work pressure” a positive thing for me. Work pressure keeps me feel motivated and alive. I agree that there are a few out-of-control situations where it is hard to manage, but I have my work-life balance skills. During my last job, I was asked to deliver the sales report one hour before the deadline, and I managed to do it successfully. I made a schedule and divided the work into 3-4 small tasks. The report was up to the mark, and I got appreciation. Then, I got to discover my skill of working under pressure.
• I catch up with stress easily but manage it efficiently. I am sensitive but learned through experiences. Whenever I get into a stressful situation, I choose to react to that situation rather than taking the stress and thinking about it. I find it productive and allows me to perform well. During my last role as a business development executive, I dealt with different clients and solved their issues. Sometimes, it used to get stressful, but I managed to solve their problems without letting them affect the work. I have a positive mindset, and I use the same to balance the work stress with cheerfulness.
• I believe that a bit of stress is suitable as a professional as it allows me to face challenges and work under pressure, helping me improve a lot. So, I have embraced stress as a positive trait of work culture. Too much stress gives anxiety and is unhealthy, but a little bit is exciting to deal with. As a digital marketing executive, I understand the value of deadlines without compromising the quality of work. I was asked to create a presentation based on the SEO reports within 6 hours at my previous workplace. Initially, I panicked for a minute, and then I calmed myself down. I made a strategy to help myself best to work under short notice, and I delivered the presentation with complete preparation and confidence. It still turned out to be one of my best performances.
• I understand how my brain works, so I act accordingly. Yoga and meditation are my weapons against stressful conditions at work. I know that work can be controlled, and so the stress. I have a well-planned strategy to balance my personal and professional life. I have been a team leader during my previous experiences, and dealing with professionals with different mindsets opens the door to tensions, but I direct well. As a website developer, sometimes clients have issues with deliverables and deadlines; I know how to be consistent and professional while being extravagantly optimistic. My action plan includes integrating soft and hard skills with intelligence and willingness to work. 

What Not To Say

When you answer the question, do not get emotional and mention whatever comes to mind. Be mindful! This situation makes or breaks your chance to enter your dream job. There are some absolute “Not-to-say” points mentioned below. Let’s discuss them,

• “I don’t have mental issues, and I do not feel stressed often.” It can be a big negative statement, not only in interviews. Stress is common and does not relate to mental well-being. Also, this sounds overconfident. 

• “I don’t know, but I will try my best.” Do not say this or anything similar. It is an uncertain response and makes you sound confused. The interview panel doesn’t expect you to be unknown of your ability to deal with stress. 

• “I don’t take it seriously and keep working.” It can be a potentially unrealistic answer. If you do not take stress seriously and still work, it will affect your work. Try to be as genuine as possible. Mention the techniques and strategies to handle the hassle in your mind, and then focus on work.