Interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re hit with a question you don’t know the answer to. Should you admit it, or try to bluff your way through? In this edition of #AskAmelia, Campfire’s Founder and Director, Amelia Cranfield, shares her advice on the best way to handle these tricky moments. Read more to find out…

Amelia Cranfield is the Founder and Director of Campfire, the Marketing Association’s exclusive recruitment agency partner. Campfire specialises in placing talent across digital marketing, e-commerce, media, and creative roles throughout New Zealand, offering full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance opportunities.

So, why should you #AskAmelia? With over 18 years of recruitment experience in both the UK and New Zealand, she’s seen it all, and she’s not here to sugarcoat anything. If you’ve got a burning question, email: askamelia@campfirerecruitment.co.nz

Question: Is it okay to admit in an interview that I don’t know the answer – or should I blag it?

Let’s be honest, we’re all human, and no one has all the answers. So yes, it’s completely okay to admit when you don’t know something in an interview. In fact, honesty often speaks louder than a confident bluff.

First thing is: don’t panic. The interviewer might not expect you to know the answer, they could be testing to see how you react when you’re under pressure. Be calm and think logically.

Next, explain that you prefer to be transparent in your approach and, while you may not know the exact answer, here’s your best guess based on your existing knowledge. Then walk them through your thinking. Why do you suspect your answer might be correct? What prior experience are you drawing from?

This approach shows self-awareness, problem-solving, and the ability to think on your feet; skills that are often more important than knowing every technical detail offhand. Make it clear that it’s a guesstimate, not a fact, and reiterate that you’re keen to learn and fill in any knowledge gaps.

It also helps to be prepared. At Campfire, we give candidates a custom pre-interview pack with potential interview questions tailored to the specific job. This helps our candidates to prepare thoroughly for the conversation. But even if you’re not working with us, it’s easy to think of sample interview questions. Just don’t rely on AI to give you the answers, it can be wrong, and if the interviewer digs deeper, you might end up fumbling.

So, bottom line: be honest, show how you’d approach the question, and use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your learning mindset. You don’t have to know everything, you just have to show that you’re capable of figuring it out.

Got a burning question about recruitment, interviews, or careers? Ask Amelia.

Email your question to askamelia@campfirerecruitment.co.nz, and it could be featured in our next #AskAmelia blog.

Source: Amelia Cranfield, 6 August 2025