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How do you prepare for interviews if you’re really bad at making things up on the spot..?

I’m pretty quiet and it’s hard to answer questions especially when I’m very nervous

interviews interviewing-skills
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Dina’s Answer

Feeling nervous about interviews is almost universal. You are in good company! That being said, there are strategies to help you.

1. Learn about the company before the day of the interview. You can usually find information on their website, LinkedIn, or any news articles that highlight their work. If you know who is interviewing you, find out what their role is at the company. Knowing what the company does will help you ask better questions and sound interested in their work.

2. Start your answer with "Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share more about that" or That's a good question!" Using a statement like that can show your enthusiasm and gives you time to think about what to say.

3. Write a list of a few of your accomplishments, strengths, and weakness and bring it with you. You can use this list as a quick reminder of the skills that make you a good fit for the job.

Lastly, be true to yourself. If the interviewers do not respect that, then consider whether this is a place that you would feel comfortable working.

Best of luck in this process!
Thank you comment icon That last sentence says it all - thanks Dina! Kim Igleheart
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Joe’s Answer

Do your homework and prepare like you would for an exam. learn about the company and what it does and be prepared to give an "elevator pitch" about your self and prepared with recent success stories and accomplishments.
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Burde Prerana’s Answer

Keep practicing! Engaging in mock interviews with seasoned professionals within your network will provide you with invaluable hands-on experience.
Always be prepared to confidently present your elevator pitch.
Take time to understand the company, their operations, and their culture. This will help you identify how their values align with yours, enhancing your personal connection to the company.
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Jordan’s Answer

Hi There! Good question. Sometimes I need to remind myself that I actually do know the answer and don't need to make something up. Also a good rule of thumb is if you really dont know the answer and cant relate it to something you do know then its okay to say I actually don't know but I would be more than happy to look into that for you! This would be honest and impress your interviewer that you are open to learning more.
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Vincent’s Answer

Get ready for your interview by doing as much preparation as possible. Thoroughly research the company and the department you're applying to. If you know anyone who works there, talk to them to understand the company's current priorities. Find out about your interviewer and identify common interests that you can bring up during the conversation. Practice answering potential interview questions by rehearsing in front of a mirror and recording yourself. Keep refining your responses until you're happy with your presentation and voice. Review the job description and think about how you've successfully handled similar responsibilities in the past. When answering questions, focus on how you can bring value to the role, more than other candidates. Be truthful in your responses, but avoid saying anything that could negatively impact your chances. Practice responding to tricky questions without undermining yourself. Be on time for the interview, show respect to the interviewer, and appreciate their time.
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Daniel’s Answer

Hi Monica!

I would encourage you to do research on the company. That will enable you to be knowledgeable about the company when the interviewer ask you questions. Also, by knowing information on the company it will let you ask strategic questions to whoever is interviewing you. I know its difficult but do your best to stay cool and think about the answers you give before blurting out something. Always have copies of your resume with you and ensure you dress professional for your interview. Even if the company has a pretty chill dress code dressing professional will make you stand out from the competition.

From someone who has interviewed hundreds of people at multiple companies (used to be in HR) I can't tell you how much the above items stood out. Individuals just being knowledgeable about our company displayed that the person being interviewed did their homework and really wanted this position. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions at the end. This always showed me that the person had interest in helping our company grow.

I hope some of these tips help and good luck!
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Kim’s Answer

Hi Monica,

I've been helping people prepare for interviews for 25 years. It definitely helps to practice with someone. Recently, we've been using ChatGPT to generate sample interview questions for different types of roles. You can put in the job description of the role you are interviewing for and the company name and ask ChatGPT to generate a list of possible interview questions. Obviously these won't necessarily be what you are asked, but it's a great step in preparing for an interview. Including the job description and company will help generate more relevant questions than searching for sample interview questions.

Additionally, always make certain you are dressed professionally, and if you are interviewing via video, make sure you have a clean space with nothing behind you or a blurred background. Test your video and microphone equipment ahead of time so you can work out any issues, and log in to the interview 5 minutes early. It's always better to be early and waiting than late.

Best of luck!
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T.J.’s Answer

Hello Monica!

I believe the best way to prepare for interviews is to practice with a human being.

Having a person that can help you prepare is helpful, since you can gauge their reactions and get feedback in real time.

A site you can check out is Pramp. This site can help you answer questions for a variety of interviews.

It has a focus on the tech field. However, Pramp has a Behavioral Interview section that may help you.
These types of interview questions will likely appear for any career field you're aiming for: https://www.pramp.com/dev/uc-behavioral

Another few sites that are similar are Interviewing - https://interviewing.io/ - and Prepbunk - http://prepbunk.com/

You can use these free sites, or seek out help from a mentor in your area.

Some mentor programs are available from large organizations, such as:
- ACE Mentor Program: for design, construction, or engineering. - https://www.acementor.org/students/students-overview/
- Advance College Experience - https://tinyurl.com/ace-ccp-edu
- Boys and Girls Club - https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/June/interview-tips-for-teens

Also: You can see if your teachers or staff can recommend any mentors to help you with job interview prep.

Generally, just remember that you're talking to another person. We're all human. Place less pressure on yourself to perform "perfectly". Take your time to learn and practice with someone you're comfortable with.

Sending you support with your future interview practice :)
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Allison’s Answer

Hi Monica,

This is a great question!! As some people noted in their responses, I would highly recommend looking up or having ChatGPT generate some example interview questions for the job you are interviewing for. A good way to do this would be to input the job description so that questions are relatable to what you will be doing in the role.

A technique I would highly recommend using when answering interview questions is the STAR method. It not only allows you to outline exactly what your answer is, but also a great way to settle the nerves. You'll have a STAR answer that could be applicable to a variety of questions that may come up during the interview process. Heres what it is:
S - Situation: what was the general scenario of the situation you are drawing from? any details that will help you set up your response
T - Task: what was your role within the situation?
A - Action: what did you do within your role to contribute to it? what were the steps you took? (take your time here! this is where the interviewer will see your thought process)
R - Result: what did you accomplish? was what you were outlining resolved? if not, what were the takeaways?

Keep your answers to each concise as you do not want to lose focus on exactly what you are trying to portray. I've outlined an example below as well:
Question: What was a time you had a lot on your plate and had strict deadlines? How did you handle it?

Answer:
Situation: There was a time when I was working at (X) company that I had 4 deliverables labeled as high priority. 2 of those deliverables were client facing, while the other two were internal and important for another team to close a task.
Task: Knowing that all of these were high priority, I knew I had to organize myself to be able to get all of them out in time and without error.
Action: I first started by organizing each task by how long it would take me to complete, looking to prioritize the client deliverables first and internal deliverables second. I then set expectations with the internal teams that I was tracking towards a end of week handoff to their team while prioritizing urgent client requests. From there I began working on the items that I put first and ensuring they were reviewed as I did not want to rush through any of these projects. I then began the internal tasks and had regular check ins with the team requesting them.
Result: I was able to meet all deliverables internally and externally by setting expectations and taking each task one step at a time.

Good luck!

Allison recommends the following next steps:

here is a great article on the STAR method! https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method
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Tyron’s Answer

Job interviews are your stage to shine, and preparation is the key to a stellar performance. The internet is a treasure trove of common interview questions that you can utilize to ace any future interviews. It's beneficial to have a few well-crafted responses to typical situational questions at your fingertips. Remember to highlight your unique qualities to your potential employer, as this can spark engaging conversations. Don't feel pressured to rush your responses. It's perfectly okay to pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before answering. Clarity and brevity are your allies in your responses. While it might be tempting to use more words, it's essential to avoid fluff and get straight to the point with prepared specific details. Doing some homework on the company and your interviewer can give you valuable insights into your prospective employer's current state, their objectives, and a chance to build rapport with the hiring manager based on their background. Lastly, step into the shoes of the hiring manager and think about the questions you would ask a prospective employee for the role you're applying for. This will give you a fresh perspective and prepare you for any curveballs.
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PwC’s Answer

If you get asked a question you don’t know the answer to, say that. Say, "I actually don’t have too much context about this topic. I’d love to learn more. Is there a resource you could guide me towards?"
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PwC’s Answer

Make sure you put the company, purpose and values in the company fits you. You deserve to be happy.
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PwC’s Answer

Practice self-reflection, and communicating with people of the same status is the interviewer. Prepare yourself. Definitely research the position in the company and do mock interviews with your teachers professors or anyone you know, be ready to ask questions and show enthusiasm as well.
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PwC’s Answer

This question usually comes from the overwhelming stress that job interviews give us. Please understand that this is totally normal and everyone feels this way!
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PwC’s Answer

Network and try doing informational interviews beforehand.
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PwC’s Answer

Things to know:

1. Be yourself and be confident: know that the company is hiring YOU and if you are being asked to interview, chances are they think you have the skills and are smart enough. They are now trying to get to know your personality and the person behind the resume.

2. Research the company's values, purpose, and the specific job you are applying for. They will ask you questions they want you to demonstrate what you know about the company, plus you can use this research to come up with questions to ask after the interview.

3. Always ask/say something at the end of the interview when the say, "do you have any questions for me?"
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PwC’s Answer

Talk with others in the current role, and search the company website or other online forums for any tips or tricks you can find on the interview process. Most importantly, RELAX!! One interview is a minuscule part of your life. Don't worry if it doesn't work out, God has a plan for everyone.
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PwC’s Answer

Prepare an "elevator pitch"
-what would you tell someone to explain who you are?
-what do you value?
-what do you want to achieve in this specific position?
make the pitch about 5 minutes, so if they start off the interview with "tell me about yourself" you know exactly what to say!

Prepare questions for the interviewers at the end. It makes you look professional and like you care about getting that specific position.
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PwC’s Answer

Do research to learn about how your own personal values are related to the company you are applying for. It is important to learn about their culture and how you might fit in and add to that culture.
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PwC’s Answer

Be true to yourself and be honest about your interests and ambitions. Share your passions. Best of luck!
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PwC’s Answer

Being really thoughtful/aware during a job/task/assignment can help you remember it for later during an interview. Writing notes about different accomplishments right when they happen can be helpful later to jog your memory. Interviewers can ask about experiences from years ago, so keep a log of different experiences you've had, and you'll have an easier time remembering.
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Glenn’s Answer

Generally speaking, being prepared is crucial. This means thoroughly researching the company and the role you're applying for before the interview. A helpful way to practice is to conduct mock interviews with a friend or classmate, which can equip you to handle any question that comes your way. It's also beneficial for candidates to develop a brief "elevator pitch" that succinctly outlines their career goals and skills. This pitch can be practiced in various contexts, such as at the beginning of an interview or as an answer to a question during the interview. Experiment with different phrasing to express the same key points, ensuring your pitch always sounds natural and authentic.
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Krystle’s Answer

After you've done your research on the employer, the role and responsibilities, I highly recommend you check out your college career center. They often help you with recording mock interviews and resume preparation/critique. It is helpful to have a counselor steer you in the right direction in terms of how you could have better approached answering a question or choosing the right words to convey what it is you intended to say.
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Ashesh’s Answer

Hi Monica,

I hear you!
There are few things that you need to prepare for yourself in general even before you think about preparing for interviews.

1) The 'Pretty quiet'
2) Being very nervous
3) Make things up on the spot/on the fly


1) Being quiet is not bad, but remaining 'silent' when you need to speak up is not good either! So focus on areas where you feel you need to speak up in general and start practicing and implementing it, gradually it will boost your morale and self-confidence and then you will enjoy you being not quiet all the time!
Talk to your self loudly, tell your self to speak up when its needed and not be conscious about anything especially on how it will be treated!
I am writing this to you without too much worrying about how it will be interpreted, who will like this or not like this, as there is not finite answer to this thought!

2) Being very nervous - I may have a follow-up question here, on what makes you very nervous here?
a - Are you in-general like that by nature?
b - Do you have interview phobia (not sure if there is a word for this)
c - Or is there something else running in your mind which you feel can impact your interview results and hence making you nervious?
d - None of the above

For the sake of discussion, I will just talk about 2-b as your question is tied to interviews!
For anyone who just gets nervous thinking about interviews is a very common human behavior for most people at every stage of their career and % of nervousness varies from say 5% - 90% (just making up numbers here, but I hope you got my point)
To kill the nervousness you need many naturally available features like:
Divert your mind - (Listen to music, play games, stop studying 4-5 hours prior) and not overthink about a certain thing (Interview and its outcome) in this case
Confidence - Consistently practice anyway you like but do it consistently (repeatedly) on the topic and/or resume till you gain confidence pills!
Avoid discussions - Stop discussions regarding you being nervous, or reading online on stuff related to nervousness ,etc. -- this is like a drug and will not help you to overcome your problem.
Mindset shift to think What you Can do! and not what you can't do! - This helps to focus on things in your control and not worry about things like (new topic, surprise questions, interview results, etc.) which you don't have control over but thinking about those makes you nervous!

3) Make things up on the spot/on the fly - This is a great to have skill, but seems to be an uncommon skill, I don't think that everyone who have a job today even have this skill where they can make things up on the spot!
However, during interviews, having this skill helps you to tackle questions for which you were not prepared for. And that is exactly the reason why an interviewer asks such questions, because they want to test how spontaneous you are or are you making up your answers?, at work if a leader is in the same elevator as you are and they ask you something which you did not expect, how would you react? etc. etc. - Interviewer don't want the right answer, but they want the right approach, a right way in which you handle an unexpected situation.
This needs good about of focus and practice as it needs to be built-in your muscle memory and once you overcome that barrier you will be able to confidently make thigs up on the fly!

Happy to help on any of these concerns that you have raised to help you prepare for yourself and then for any interviews!

Thanks and Good Luck!

Ashesh recommends the following next steps:

Practice on 1, 2, 3 and then you will be ready to practice on actual topics related to a given interview
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Amy’s Answer

Hi Monica!

There is a ton of great advice here so I won't repeat. The best defense against getting nervous and having to make things up on the spot is to practice and prepare. Reaching out for help is a great first step so good for you!

Most interviews are structured to get real example so "making things up" is not going to help you. If you have experience - take down some bullet examples of situations to help you draw on when you get asked a question. What was the situation, what action did you take, what was the result and if it was a negative situation, what did you learn or do differently the next time. Keep it to 1 sentence for each of these to guide you. This can also help you when you get nervous. Pause, look down at your list and then use it to guide your response.

Finally have 1 or 2 questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
Questions like: What does a typical day look like?
What are the qualities that you see make someone successful in this role?

These are thoughtful questions that convey your interest in the position and company.

It's ok to be quiet, to be nervous, to need a minute to formulate your answer. The interviewer expects some of this. The more you practice and prepare, the more confidence you will gain and minimize the impact on your interview.

Good luck to you!
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Bhupendra’s Answer

1. Dive into learning about the company you're about to interview with.
2. Engage in conversations with peers about possible scenarios and get ready for the interview either online or by rehearsing with friends or family members. The more questions you tackle, the more confidence you'll build to handle a variety of inquiries.
3. Don't hesitate to request a few minutes from the interviewer to compose your answer.
4. Feel free to ask the interviewer questions about the company, or about their personal experiences within the firm. This strategy not only helps establish a rapport with the interviewer but also aids in reducing your anxiety.
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