• Stress interviews are designed to deliberately put a candidate ill at ease to see how they perform. Although interviews are stressful experiences, it is not uncommon in some sectors for companies to ratchet up the pressure.
• The stress approach can be in the form of questions or statements. Mild stress: "With your lack of relevant experience, what makes you think you can do this job?" Or, medium stress: "You seem to lack the authority to handle these responsibilities." Or, major stress: "That is the worst answer we've heard from any of the candidates."
• The stress could be presented in a situation or disguised in the interviewer's behaviour, such as an unsmiling greeting, protracted silence after hearing your answer to a particular question, or a confrontational or argumentative attitude.
• Often the stress is caused by the set up of the room. The American Army used to ask candidates to open the window. What the candidate did not know is that the window was nailed shut.
• Consulting firms sometimes use these techniques. Consultants are often faced with stressful situations and the interviewer wants to determine how you will react. Sales is another area where the stress interview is more common. The assumption is that the individual who performs better under stressful situations is more likely to handle live stress situations at work.
• Often the interviewer will use the "WHY" approach. You will be asked a question and immediately after you respond, you will be asked a WHY question on the same subject. This may continue four or five times. No matter how you respond, the information is apparently insufficient.
How to deal with it
• Keep your cool. The secret of success is to stay calm and not let the interviewer throw you. After the question, take a breath and a pause, consider your answer and deliver it pleasantly in a neutral, calm tone of voice. Stress interviewing requires being a good listener and giving a deliberate response.
• Since the aim is get you emotional, try your best to be calm, collect your thoughts, respond clearly from the intellect rather than emotions. Do not take the interviewers' remarks personally and try to be consistent in your responses.