How to Stay Focused During Interview?

Here’s the situation: you have secured an invitation for one of the most important interviews in your life. You know that you have the skills, experience, and other qualifications required for the job. However, upon meeting face-to-face with a panel of interviewers, you find your palms are sweaty, dry mouth, and even vocal tremors. Needless to say, you’re nervous.

Most job seekers will agree that interview is the most daunting process in recruitment. No matter how many interviews you would have been in your life, each interview always poses different kinds of pressures and challenges. While we do acknowledge the fact, that an interview is not merely a casual conversation between talents and their potential employers. More than this, it is a formal meeting where hiring managers gauge your performance and determine if you really are the best fit for the company.

Minutes after you walk through the company’s door, to the time you leave the interview room, you realise that you are being observed minutely for your body language, gestures and every comment is noted. When you cannot handle such tensed scenario that puts your fate at stake, even the most qualified candidates can lose their cool and end up ruining the whole interview. Nervousness affects the brain from functioning properly, which explains why some people find it difficult to stay focused during an interview.

Here are 5 tips to keep yourself on your toes during an interview, and land that job you’re gunning:

1.       Be prepared

Before the D-day make sure that you have prepared everything, both physically and mentally. Do your homework well, and familiarise yourself with the organisation’s core business such that you can demonstrate how you are a perfect fit for the job role.

Arrive early and review your notes before entering the interview room, this will boost your confidence. You also need to pay attention to your attire, make sure to wear something decent as it represents your personality.

2.       Take a deep breath

When your hand is trembling and your heart is pounding faster, pause and take a deep breath. Deep breathing helps calm your nerves, so you can get back to your focus. When you are faced with a tough or tricky question, don’t be panicky and lose your grip. Before answering, take a deep breath to channel your thoughts in finding the right answer.

3.       Straighten up your back

Pay close attention to your posture. Do not lean or slouch on the chair, because it will create a poor impression. To keep you focus and stay alert on what the interviewer’s are saying, straighten your back and show enthusiasm.

4.       Eliminate distractions

Our brain can hardly stay focused for continuous long hours. Even the slightest disruptions might distract your mind during an interview. Therefore, try eliminating any potential source of distractions, such as Smartphone. Rather than setting it into a silent or vibrating mode, it is better to turn it off altogether.

5.       Think positive

Cut down the stressful imagination and relax your mind by thinking positively. Maybe the interview is not that bad, afterall. Never undermine yourself and be confident about your strengths. The very fact behind, you securing an interview call in itself means that you possess certain qualities that attract employer’s attention. The next thing to do is to prove that they have made the right decision by inviting you.

Practice these tips for your next interview and deliver your best performance. Good luck!