Working under pressure

This is a stressful question! By staying calm when you answer it you are already showing you can handle the pressure.

The best way to help you stay calm is to have an example prepared. STAR is:

Situation

Briefly describe the situation, e.g. my project group were due to give a presentation at school, but one person had to drop out due to illness.

Task

Explain what needed to happen, e.g. we had to find a way of delivering the presentation on time with the remaining team.

Action

Explain what you did, e.g. I went over my friends notes and managed to incorporate the key elements of their part into my section of the presentation.

Result

What was the outcome, e.g. the presentation went ahead on time and we received really positive feedback on our ability to re-write it at short notice.

It's ok to say you find pressure stressful but saying you don't get stressed may create the wrong impression.

What caused the stress isn't important, it's how you handled it that counts.

Remember the ability to work under pressure is a great skill, and one that will be called upon from time-to-time so it’s worth trying to get used to it, even though it may not always be a comfortable feeling. It’s important to remember though, that your physical and mental health should always come first. So, if it’s getting too much, take a breath, find some space, go for a walk, and make sure you ask for help when you need it.