HOW TO SAY I DO NOT KNOW IN AN INTERVIEW

Not every specification on the job advert can be met by a job applicant. Gaps may include such issues as management methods, technology, case scenarios, exposure to target consumers or cultural expositions. Most of job seekers sitting on an interview are inclined to wishing away questions that most likely would expose the gaps. In many cases such aspects of a job that a job seeker does not know are evident from a resume or cover letter – yet one is called for an interview. What does an employer expect when they call a job seeker for an interview yet they know s/he has not being exposed to ISO systems, for instance? A comedy session? Not exactly. Many times scope sells – you can succeed if your mindset points towards reasonable scope of fast adaptability, learning and cross integration.

Here are few examples of I do not know scenario.

Scenario 1

Interview Panel:   Have you worked in an environment where 360 degrees performance management is being carried out?

George: Certainly with the dynamics in the perspective of effective work place performance, it becomes very important that performance appraisal is taken away from just the mere supervisory assessment to include peer and juniors perspective – which is the essence of 360 degree performance management feedback. I have not worked in a set up of 360 degree feedback but certainly it would be quite exciting for me.

Comment: George has taken an advantage of this question to explain what he knows about the subject matter. He has done this to an extent one would be tempted to think that he will at last say that he has the exposure. His closing line is a contrast of his educative observation and his seemingly genuine eagerness to have the exposure has diluted his being not exposed.

Scenario 2

Interview Panel:   How much do you know about mechanized wood cutting?

Gerald: As you know I come from the informal set up where most of the furniture operations are manual. I have very outstanding outcome with woodwork geometry – sorry to compliment myself. Perhaps use of machinery will underutilize my trait. All the same I am able to triple my capacity at a much improved quality standard.

Comment: Gerald has taken the approach of detailing his otherwise capabilities and therefore challenged the panelist to view his background to be more valuable. He has actual made the machine usage to look so aesthetic and therefore not as complicated as the panelist want to make it. This trade off can be dangerous to an emotional panel. They may feel undermined by the impression in his voice that machinery application is no big deal. Sales and marketing persons can apply this leverage method without any risk. For instance a sales candidate may make a statement like, "Amidst the then existing controversy about the applicability of private security and investigation services, I managed to create big business out and tripled the company clientele. I suppose machinery sales may offer no significant challenge as such.  

Scenario 3

Interview Panel:   You have not worked with researchers and scientists. Have you?

Christine: They know me as a highly outgoing administrative secretary in the company capable of working with any departmental heads without difficulty – perhaps even the hardest to deal with (every company has at least a few). They will often assign me to departments that are undergoing very drastic changes so that I can deal with complex interactions and coordinate highly technical experts – consultants, investment bankers etc. This is perhaps one of my underlying aspirations for this position. I have not dealt with researchers and scientists in particular, but I can – with no difficulty.

Comment: "Dare not think your situation is the most complex". This is what Christine is communicating. "I have developed equivalent competencies from my industry or current line of business". What will a technical panelist feel? Embarrassed, enlightened?  Perhaps they will get the mixed feeling that Christine knows the complexity of the interactions they are examining beyond the mere job titles. Alternatively they may begin to think that Christine is well informed and she knows what to expect.

For every job application that you make to which you can identify a gap in your competencies;

·       Dig deeper into the knowledge about what you are short of

·       Try to structure an explanation about the subject matter in a manner that it may show you have the knowledge but only lack hands on exposure

·       Find a similar competence that you already have that can enable you to get over your weaknesses faster or better

·       Structure your presentations in such ways that they display what you have first and then declare what you do not last

·       Be brief and comprehensive.