Interview Question confusion

For future interviews (and for others reading this thread), I recommend practicing answering questions you don't fully understand. There is no way you can expect to have a brilliant answer for every possible question that might be asked. So, it is important to know how you will handle it when you are stumped.

I suggest you smile, take a deep breath, and ask for more clarification. Admit that you are a little confused by the question and don't know exactly what the interviewer means. Appear reasonably calm and sufficiently comfortable with your abilities to admit that you need a little help with this question, demonstrating that you will not hesitate to seek help when you need it.

As the interviewer responds to your question, he/she will clarify the question a bit and give you both information and time to formulate you next response.

Also, don't be afraid to say you need a moment to think or to ask a specific question in return, such as ... "Do you mean, when I was a team leader and led a team? ... or do you mean simply, for me to discuss a time when I was a team member?" Once again, as the interviewer answers your question, that will give you more insight into what he/she is looking for, give you a little more time to think, and demonstrate that you can and will seek clarification when appropriate. You turn a potentially negative situation into one that makes you look good.

Also, don't be afraid to say that you can't think of an example that matches their question exactly. "I can't think of a specific example of when I formed a team, but certainly I was an active member of many teams throughout my preceptorship." ... and then expand with some general examples of teamwork and your views on teamwork. Once again, showing that you are confident enough to not try to fake your response ... but that you have experience with teamwork and values that are consistent with theirs. Such an answer shows you in a positive light even though your answer didn't exactly match the wording of their question.

So ... practice a few strategies to handle those questions that "throw you" so that you can remain "graceful" in those situations that inevitably come up from time to time.