During job interviews, employers often ask, “How do you work under pressure?” The question is designed to show how you handle stress, meet deadlines and stay productive in challenging situations. If you are neurodivergent, you probably already have ways of coping with pressure, and this question is your chance to talk about them. Here is why employers ask it, how to prepare, and an example answer.
Why employers ask this question
Employers ask about working under pressure to understand how you manage stress, solve problems and handle tight deadlines. They want to know that you can stay calm, focused and productive when things get difficult. They’re also interested in your coping strategies and whether you have the skills to do well in a fast-paced environment. It often comes alongside related questions such as “How do you prioritise your work?” and “How do you handle conflict?”, so it helps to prepare for them together.
How to prepare for the question
Step 1: Reflect on past experiences
Take a moment to think about past situations, at work or in your personal life, where you faced a lot of pressure. Consider how you responded, the strategies you used to manage stress and the outcomes you achieved. Going back over these will remind you what you are already good at when things get tense.
Step 2: Identify your coping strategies
Work out which coping strategies work best for you when dealing with stress and pressure. These could include prioritising, time management, breathing exercises or asking colleagues for support. Our 5-minute mindfulness activities for neurodivergent job-seekers may give you some ideas. The NHS also has practical advice on managing stress. Knowing your go-to strategies will make it easier to explain your approach in the interview.
Step 3: Develop a concise response
Prepare a short, honest answer. Interviewers want specifics, so say what you actually do when the pressure builds rather than just saying you “stay calm”. Mention how you organise yourself, how you adjust when plans change and how you make decisions.
Step 4: Give examples
Back up your response with relevant examples from your past experience. Pick one situation where you handled pressure well, and explain what the problem was, what you did and how it turned out. The STAR interview method is a simple way to structure an example like this.
Step 5: Practise and reflect
Practise your response with someone supportive, and ask them where it was unclear or went on too long. It also helps to think about what you have learned from past stressful situations and what you now do differently. If the interview itself feels like the biggest pressure point, these tips on managing stress and anxiety before an interview can help.
Example answer
“When working under pressure, I’ve found that staying organised and breaking tasks down into manageable steps helps me stay focused and meet deadlines. For example, in my previous role we had a critical project with a tight timeline. I created a detailed plan with milestones, allocated resources and set realistic deadlines. I kept the team updated as priorities shifted, and we delivered what we needed to. I also use breathing exercises and take short breaks to recharge and keep a clear mind. That way I can get through busy periods without the quality of my work slipping.”
Keep preparing
Another question you’re likely to meet is “What interests you about this job?” Our guide to answering “What interests you about this job?” walks you through it step by step.
To practise this and other common questions, download our free interview question practice resource.
How Enna can help
If you are looking for a job, the Enna jobs board features roles with employers who are serious about neuroinclusion. Set up job alerts to hear about new vacancies as soon as they’re posted. You can also get free, personalised feedback on your CV so your application makes it to the interview stage.
Employers, bear in mind that pressure affects people in very different ways. Our neurodiversity foundations for managers workshop helps managers set up workloads, deadlines and check-ins that get the best from neurodivergent team members. Book a call to talk it through.
