Respond. Don’t React.
One of the best pieces of advice I got when dealing with a difficult colleague was “Respond. Don’t React.” The same advice applies to product interviews.
You try to respond not react when someone triggers you. While at work we can walk away and calm down, where as in a case interview we don’t have that luxury. We need to calm ourselves immediately.
If asked a probing question: Listen. Think. Respond.
When getting a probing question in an interview, most candidates have a natural tendency to react rather than respond.
As a result, candidates can come across as defensive or clueless.
Three Simple Rules
Listen to the question being asked.*
Don’t always assume you were wrong.
Be concise with your response.
*You can always double check to make sure you understood the question.
Neutral Reasons Interviewers ask follow up questions
They are trying to help nudge you in the right direction
They were taking notes and missed something
You are rambling and they lost track of where they were
You spoke too fast or mumbled and they want to get their notes right, to help you
Something you said interests them
Now, there is alway a chance you are completely off base and they are poking and prodding because you are way off base. But if you follow rule number 1 above, and listen to the question being asked, you can still address any negative reasons they are asking a question by assuming positive intent. Most interviewers want good candidates and so are not trying to trip you up, even if it feels that way.
Why might they try to trip you up?
If you sound arrogant, or claim something definitively that is in no way proven definitive, the interviewer might challenge you in an effort to trip you up on your overly confident claim. So be careful about claiming something is or is not definitive.
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