How to answer tough interview questions

Have you ever been in an interview where a question absolutely stumped you?  Or baffled you?  Or maybe even offended you?  As you can imagine, I have heard a wide range of wild questions asked during an interview.  De-briefing with a candidate after an interview is one of the favorite parts of my job.  You just never know what you are going to hear.

So how exactly do you answer the tough questions in an interview?  The ones where you might not have a complete answer.  Or feel like there is more than one right answer.  I have a few ideas that will hopefully be helpful the next time you encounter a particularly difficult one:

1)  It is okay to say "I don't know".  These are three words we as humans don't like to say very often.  Whether it be your personal life or professional life, it is not a good feeling to not know an answer to a question.  I am here to tell you, however, that the quicker those words fly out of your mouth in certain instances, the better.  Time and time again I have spoken with employers after an interview only to find out a candidate rambled when asked a question they didn't have an answer to.  Talking just for the sake of talking and hoping the right answer is eventually spewed out is not a good strategy.  I recently even had an employer tell me that the question that wasn't answered wasn't a critical one.  But the candidate so badly butchered the answer that they were eliminated from consideration at that very moment in the interview.  When instead saying "I don't know" likely would have only resulted in a small blip on the radar of the overall interview feedback.

2)  It is okay to not answer at all.  Before you think I have lost my mind, hear me out.  This is only in reference to a topic that may not be work-related.  We all know the topics that are supposedly off limits - politics, religion, etc.  So if asked a question about current events or something that could be considered a hot button topic, be careful how you answer.  Not having an opinion or answer will likely keep the emotion out of the discussion.  Focus instead on your ability to do the job.

3)  Keep it simple, Sam.  I know you've likely heard this one before, but it still holds true.  Sometimes employers ask edgy questions just to see how candidates react.  So it isn't always about what you say, but how you say it.  It is much easier to say too much than to say too little.  An additional tip here is to ask a follow up question at the end of a succinct answer.  That keeps the conversation going without you needing to provide useless filler.

4)  Be unexpected and creative.  Sometimes tough interview questions come as completely subjective.  These are intentionally asked to see how someone will react on their feet.  It could be something related to a tough work situation.  Or a colleague that is tough to communicate with.  Or the client who everyone knows is difficult to work with, but might be assigned to you.  While you don't want to go too far off the deep end here, you sometimes have to take some calculated risks to stand out from other prospective candidates for the job.  Provide examples and details of why you think your radical idea might work.

5)  Be prepared.  In other words, expect some tough questions.  If you walk into any interview thinking that it will be all roses and rainbows, you are in for a sorry surprise.  Be ready for all kinds of crazy questions.  If none come, at least you were ready for it.

What are some of the tough questions you have heard in the past?  And how did you react to them?