What Should You Be Paid for Your Lack of Experience?

Interview Question: How Do You Think You Will Compensate for Your Lack of Experience?

 

If you have an interview, and the interviewer asks you a question like this one, it is a straight challenge question. If they didn’t think you were ready for the role, you wouldn’t have gotten a call into the interview. You need to answer with confidence, and you need to supply an answer that does not acknowledge that the question is in any way accurate. If you talk about what you actually will do to compensate, you give them ammo to believe you are not right for the job.

Bad Answer

“I will work extra hard and be the bestest damn employee possible sir.”

Again, this acknowledges that they are right – that you do not have enough experience. You don’t want to give them that satisfaction.

Good Answer

“Experience is only valuable if it helps you do a better job than someone without it. Yet I am confident I can handle the position’s tasks competently, making any experience in the field unnecessary and possibly irrelevant.”

You may want to phrase your answer differently depending on how much experience you have. For example, if you have worked in the field, you can discuss how that experience is “more than enough” for the position. Either way, be confident and tell them straight out that you are a good fit, and not worried about whether or not your work history will affect your ability to do the job.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Be confident.
• Maybe even a little cocky.
• Tell them you will be great at the job.
• Share some qualifications, if applicable.