Right from when we begin school, through college, and even into the working world, we are coached to face questions with answers, to exhibit what we know, to fill the space between lines with words. When we encounter a question that we do not have an answer to, panic sets in. We feel inadequate, or are prompted to immediately search for the answer — this latter response is mostly a good thing. But sometimes, we refuse to recognise or admit that we don’t know, and proceed to apply that most familiar of exam techniques — we fudge. Fudging can be a high art, and when done skilfully, can do a good job of persuading all but the most discerning examiner that you do know something.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am certainly not advocating fudging, although it is something most of us have been guilty of doing, when we encounter the unexpected question or one that we just haven’t fully prepared for. In a written exam, it is possible to fudge and get away with, to some degree, but in a face-to-face situation, or in an interview, I wouldn’t recommend it. In fact, it is good to get comfortable with the idea that we may not always have answers to all questions… in an examination, interview, life. There are also contexts where it is not expected that you have a ready answer for every question, where a bit of uncertainty is not just acceptable, but even welcome.
Honesty matters
Take the typical interview. You may have questions that test your subject knowledge, assess your attitude, and get a sense of your skills. In terms of subject knowledge, there are some things that everyone who has studied a given subject is expected to know — basic theories and foundational concepts. But every field of knowledge is vast and complex, and one cannot know everything; nor is someone at the entry level expected to. So while facing an interview, it is important to be aware of what you can speak of with confidence, and what you are not too comfortable talking about. When faced with questions from this second area, you should be able to graciously admit that you don’t know, or are not too sure.
Fudging an answer in an interview can be disastrous. For one, interviewees are usually experienced enough to be able to tell when a candidate is just shooting the breeze. For another, if you really don’t know the answer, you may get so involved in faking knowledge that you end up spinning a complicated web that you can’t extricate yourself from. This may lead to follow-up questions that only make it worse. Instead, a simple “I’m afraid I don’t know” could save you — and your interviewers — considerable misery and embarrassment.
Being able to say that you don’t know requires confidence and humility. It is important to prepare well for any test, and to try to cover as much ground as possible, but it is equally important to acknowledge that it is impossible to know everything, particularly when there may be questions that combine theory, application and strategy. A sincere response that acknowledges the current limits of one’s knowledge, yet indicates a willingness and interest to learn, would go a long way in making a good impression.
The author teaches at the University of Hyderabad and edits Teacher Plus. usha.bpgll@gmail.com
