An extremely simple interview question but are you calm enough to answer?

Last year, I was invited to interview at a big bank. Everything went well in the direction until the recruitment chief asked me: "Can you joke a sentence?"

I was able to say any joke: a barking sentence, skeptical about a problem . No problem. However, I was frozen instead, unable to say anything.

I'm also ready to read a long list of achievements, talk about work experience or confidently declare my enthusiasm for that position. However, I did not prepare anything at all that made me look like a real person . a man who tells jokes!

I felt like my body was disintegrating before the eyes of the interviewers and partners. I "freeze". I just looked at them with a very scary expressionless face. After a moment of silence, they smiled awkwardly and moved on to the next question.

After the disaster, I wondered why the recruiter asked me to joke. And when I look back on what I have experienced, I have the most obvious answer: They are looking for a confident, smart and wise person to make quick, effective decisions even when there is no preparation. They need someone who will never give up, no matter how great the pressure is. Therefore, asking for a joke is the best way to determine if I (the candidate being asked at the time) will meet their criteria.

Unfortunately, I failed miserably on that basic test and of course, I was not accepted.

If there is a miracle that helps me get back to that "horrible" interview, I will definitely never forget the following experiences during the interview. Of course this will not happen so I hope they will be useful to you.

1. Don't think too much

Please consider the interview so gently, don't be too serious. Obviously, having the opportunity to meet employers is a great thing. However, if you think too much, they will become very difficult to control. If you are too stressful about having to prove yourself perfect in a live talk session with your employer, you will confuse yourself.

2. Talk freely

This may seem hard for people who first interview for a job. However, put yourself in the position of the employer. They are not looking for "robots" that can become parrots to help them please all customers. They look for people who are smart and capable enough to work together in an office. Therefore, present the benefits you can bring to the organization and try to say the most natural way.

3. If it fails, it is not the end

Being rejected in an interview is very bad, especially when you've missed a dream career or a great job opportunity. However, keep moving forward and consider it as an experience so that in the future, you will get better opportunities.

If you are in the job application process, please learn from me and always prepare for the most unexpected situations.