It's Okay to Say "I Don't Know" During an Interview

Ya know, one thing you may not know about me is that I used to have an intense fear of public speaking. I was a very shy child growing up, and I felt like I was about to implode whenever I had to speak in front of a class or in a public setting.

I remember one time, early in my career, I was tasked with giving a presentation to a large group of colleagues. I was nervous as all heck! And so, I spent the next three weeks tediously attempting to plan, script, and memorize everything I would say.

Needless to say, on the day of the presentation, my nerves got the best of me, and everything I had attempted to memorize went right out of my head.

However, since then, I have learned that my fear of public speaking isn't really about saying the right thing in the right way, but rather the fear of looking like I don't know what I'm talking about. I realized the best way to get over that was to get comfortable with saying, "I don't know."

So, what does this have to do with interviewing for an instructional design or eLearning development job?

Well, any interview can be a nerve-wracking process, especially when you're new to the industry. But there's nothing more painful than being asked a question you don't know the answer to or about experience you don't have. And in those moments, you might find yourself trying to say anything other than "I don't know."

But here's a little secret: It's okay to say "I don't know" during an interview—it just depends on how you say it!

The truth is, when a hiring manager asks you a question about something you've never done, they're not necessarily looking for you to quantify your experience but rather to explain your thinking and judgment. And even if you don't have direct work experience regarding a specific topic, it doesn't mean you have to make up a story or admit defeat. Instead, it's your opportunity to share what you do know.

For example, let's say a hiring manager asks you to share your experience conducting a needs analysis, but you've never actually conducted one before. Instead of saying "I don't know" or "I've never done that before," you can say something like:

"That's a great question! While I've not yet had the opportunity to conduct a needs analysis in a practical setting, I've been researching a lot about them, and here's how I'd go about it..."

This answer lets you turn a negative into a positive. Yes, you're being upfront and honest about your experience (or lack of experience in this case), but it also lets you pivot and demonstrate your thinking and judgment. And this is ultimately what the hiring manager wants to know.

So, that's how you can confidently say "I don't know" during an eLearning or instructional design interview. What other tips do you have? Share them by commenting down below!

Have a great week, all! đź‘‹

Tim

When You’re Ready, Here are Three Ways I Can Help:

  1. Snag a Copy of My Book: If you’re new to the instructional design or eLearning development process, The eLearning Designer’s Handbook will guide you through your first projects with practical tips and methodologies based on my 15+ years of experience.

  2. Book a 1-Hour Clarity Call: Need help cutting through the noise on your skills or career development? Book a call to talk through your current situation, your goals, and how to bridge the gap between the two.

  3. Apply for My Multi-Week Cohort Program: Want personalized feedback, coaching, and guidance to learn instructional design, master the eLearning development process, build samples of work for your portfolio with Articulate Storyline, and much more? Apply to join our multi-week cohort program.