What To Say When You Don't Know the Answer in an Interview
How to answer interview questions you don't know
When you don't know an interview answer, say so honestly, then walk through how you'd figure it out: "I haven't worked with that directly, but here's how I'd approach it." Interviewers aren't grading a pop quiz; they're watching how you handle not knowing something, which happens constantly on the job.
What actually works is honesty plus process. Try: "I haven't worked with that directly, but here's how I'd approach figuring it out." Then walk through your thinking. Interviewers aren't grading you like a pop quiz; they're watching how you handle not knowing something, because that happens constantly on the job.
This matters at every career stage. Entry-level candidates worry it makes them look unqualified. Executives worry it makes them look unprepared. In both cases, a calm, thoughtful response builds more trust than a shaky guess ever could.
One more tip: it's fine to pause. "That's a good question, let me think for a second" buys you time and signals confidence, not weakness.
Want to walk into your next interview ready for anything? CareerMuv's Confidence Sprint can help.
FAQ
Q: Should I ever just say "I don't know"? Only as a last resort and always followed by how you'd find the answer. A flat "I don't know" with nothing after it stalls the conversation.
Q: What if it's a technical question I really can't fake? Be honest about the gap and pivot to a related skill or a time you learned something similar quickly.
Q: Does this make me look underqualified? No. It's far more common for interviewers to flag candidates who overclaim expertise than ones who are honest about limits.
About the Author
Keji Ogunnaike is a Calgary-area Strategic Career Consultant and Author. She's one of the few professionals globally certified as an Ethical AI Career Practitioner (EAI-C) and holds the Certified Career Success Coach (CCSC) and Certified Resume Analyst (CRA) designations from Career Directors International, plus a Prosci Change Management certification. Creator of the M.U.V.E.R. Framework™, her books include The Global Ascension and Command the Room. Through her practice, CareerMuv, she helps mid-career to executive professionals, including immigrant professionals building new careers abroad across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and beyond, move forward with a deliberate strategy for what's next.