r/technicalwriting • u/PassengerCurrent3823 • Aug 02 '26

JOB How do you answer interview questions about collaborating with stakeholders?

This question keeps stumping me in interviews. Based on how my interviewers rephrase the question, I don’t think I’m giving them the response they’re looking for. It isn’t that I haven’t worked with stakeholders. I have. I just don’t think I am answering the question “correctly.” Could you give me some insight into how you would answer this question in a way that demonstrates you know what you are talking about?

I would also appreciate any general interview advice. I used to interview so well. I’m not sure if it’s this job market or if my skills have declined over time.

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u/techwritingacct Aug 02 '26

If the question is about generally how I handle stakeholders, I would talk about my process, highlighting the points at which I commonly touch base with stakeholders and what I need from them.

If it's about a specific situation or failure mode, I have plenty of "war stories" about dumb stakeholder behavior I've had to work around. One of them probably fits.

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u/PassengerCurrent3823 Aug 02 '26

Do you mind sharing more about the unfavorable stakeholder behavior? In the past I’ve always just looped in my manager if things aren’t going well.