How to Say 'I don't know' in a Job Interview: 5 Smart Phrases

By Team foundit White Scribbled Underline September 4, 2024

I Don't Know' is a No-No!

[{"selector":"#anim-8b049182-b908-4c6b-b80a-067aa53c6ddc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07564f0e-fb6b-4ddf-b289-21de5efcd710","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 78.84959%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05477712-251a-4a0e-aba7-79ffe649de1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e110bbb-bb2d-4802-b221-f21e4a351008","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2502.22666%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04d2d9df-8693-464b-b291-74c7ca2148e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-486f2995-62f3-4da6-94fe-df3aff8642d4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73fa383f-cc7c-44e7-a805-fd2809ae2fce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcff877d-53b6-464c-a852-12bc14afc015","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn 5 alternate ways to handle tough questions in interviews when you don’t know the answer.

Admit You Need More Info

[{"selector":"#anim-902d387e-859e-4aa8-b7f7-92c08da41459","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75e9f9a9-3c72-46ed-8582-81a7a2e95133","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 78.84959%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ddcbf2a-eb7e-46fa-80be-abc06adc73b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b796f1c-20bc-45cf-bc47-057d6c16fe59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2502.22666%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-938e62c3-3714-4db0-a539-c911493845ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d49d944f-b62e-4fbb-9d9e-4236376107ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4efd3ac-8834-4c61-8b8b-413e8cfd6894","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c276c1-4096-4e48-834b-25de6c93952a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Say, 'I need more details to provide an accurate response.' This shows honesty and a willingness to learn.

Redirect to a Related Skill

[{"selector":"#anim-11059e64-0cb8-4a5a-9b65-db92fc01e1b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5537181b-fd1a-4a81-b083-968aeda2b7b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 78.84959%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-833c1dd0-0425-4a77-af6f-f542d6d8eb86","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-329d9a2d-26c3-466c-b1a2-788a75fbd9e8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2502.22666%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c38aa438-1e64-484d-a686-365923cd9bfc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-535d1a00-2df7-49ec-848e-3c90f68cc4a5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fd64794-2b39-4420-95f1-6cd113b76abd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0ec70dc-73f6-438d-bdce-f65fb4e9c1ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Respond with, 'I'm not familiar with that, but I excel in...' to keep the conversation productive.

[{"selector":"#anim-d58d8f4f-bea6-4ab3-b247-4861a11ada75","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-057ba768-c897-4939-b113-d916728ecec4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 78.84959%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2901b539-7791-4f62-b65c-62ef9d074856","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94264ba0-34f4-4b00-8e95-34104ef8b71d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2502.22666%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd291667-fa9b-4f7d-9831-1c49f7d307bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46237afc-f557-497e-8167-b5a50f3b5771","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff74fad1-1425-45cd-92af-b79410083988","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf77a94c-c6b2-4dcb-ba34-9fab12ed4af7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Say, 'I can research this and get back to you,' showing initiative and problem-solving skills.

Ask Clarifying Questions

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Express Eagerness to Learn

[{"selector":"#anim-36ac1f80-2030-426f-8881-39d0b696bea8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcba7c23-fc4d-42cf-a29a-4a837b000af5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 78.84959%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24977e86-406b-49bb-b026-7cbbd892e2a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0efd46cd-d3fa-4c98-acc3-27c49a0088c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2502.22666%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ca6a45f-e44d-4f4a-a454-3d7f1c8e1e95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63dc77fb-6869-4816-b3c7-abf7bf073630","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9311487d-1a2b-4e7a-8ad2-1de1e5e63c07","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e59f3f5-9c32-43ca-9e2a-3f77d0f50efc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":4,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Say, 'I’m eager to learn more about this,' demonstrating a commitment to self-improvement.

How to Say 'I don't know' in a Job Interview: 5 Smart Phrases

I Don't Know' is a No-No!

Admit You Need More Info

Redirect to a Related Skill

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Offer to Find the Answer

Ask Clarifying Questions

Express Eagerness to Learn

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