Media Training
How to handle difficult interview questions
Whether it's a journalist or a hiring manager, difficult questions test two things: whether you answer, and whether you stay clear under pressure. Here's a simple method that works for both.
Practise tough questions1. Hear the actual question
Under pressure people answer the question they expected rather than the one asked. Pause for a second. If it's genuinely unclear, ask what they mean.
2. Answer first
Give the direct answer in your first sentence — yes, no, a number, or “I don't know yet”. Interviewers press harder when they sense evasion, and audiences notice it immediately.
3. Then add context
After answering, explain briefly why. One reason or one example is stronger than five.
4. Bridge to your point — honestly
Once you've answered, you can move to what you want people to know: “What matters now is…”. Bridging without answering first is what makes people sound like politicians.
5. Land the answer and stop
Finish on a clear sentence and stop talking. Rambling after a good answer is how people say the thing they regret.
Common traps
Hypotheticals (“What if…?”), either/or choices that are both bad, repeated questions, and long silences after your answer. Practise each of these out loud.
Practise with follow-ups
The hard part is the second and third question, not the first. Practising with an interviewer who follows up — a colleague, a trainer or autopodi in Challenge mode — is far more useful than reading answers to yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to say 'I don't know'?
Yes, if it's true. Follow it with what you do know or when you'll know more.
How long should an answer be?
In broadcast interviews, usually 20 to 40 seconds. In job interviews, one to two minutes with a specific example.
What would autopodi ask you?
Practise tough questions