How to not zone out in interviews ๐Ÿ˜ถ?

New
sCMy14

New

sCMy14
Jun 2, 2021 14 Comments

I keep flunking interviews where interviewer gives me the question and I just lose focus. Even if it's question that I've already solved I'm not able to focus and think through. I feel like I'm overly focused on keeping a conversation with the interviewer (probably because I'm nervous talking to strangers).

So the question is how to be attentive or not lose focus during interviews? Is it ok if I don't talk to the interviewer for maybe 5-10 mins?

Tc: 11.5L
Yoe: 3

#engineering #software #swe

14

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
  1. TOP
  2. RECENT
  3. OLD
 TOP 14 Comments
  • Siemens
    chester-b

    Go to company page Siemens

    chester-b
    Would it be okay if i take a couple of minutes to think it through?
    Jun 2, 2021 1
    • New
      sCMy14

      New

      sCMy14
      OP
      I say this but the dead silence makes me think it's not a good idea to be silent during interview and so I start conversing
      Jun 2, 2021
  • Practice. More you interview more youโ€™ll be able to keep focus.

    Stop thinking about what interviewer is thinking about you. One thing that worked for me was to when practicing offline I would pretend I am being interviewed and talk to myself as I would be speaking to the interviewer.

    If problem is more extreme you can also seek medical help. Situational anxiety is a disorder and there is medical help available.
    Jun 2, 2021 2
    • New
      sCMy14

      New

      sCMy14
      OP
      Thanks, I do lack interview experience. I've only given 3 interviews in total in last 3 years and last week alone I gave 2-3.

      I hate interviews in general because they make me feel I have to impress the other person rather than solve the problem at hand. And that's the same reason I just stayed at the same company for last 2.5 years
      Jun 2, 2021
    • You need to practice more. Donโ€™t start with companies that you want to work for. Start interviewing with companies that you donโ€™t want to join and only use them as practice.

      You wonโ€™t have same level of anxiety as interviewing with your dream company neither would you be as relaxed as mock interview where you have nothing to lose.
      Jun 2, 2021
  • NVIDIA
    @ยฅ@

    Go to company page NVIDIA

    @ยฅ@
    Quite frankly, you donโ€™t have to keep the interviewer involved in small talk. You are already working on your problem statement, so just think out loud and verbalize your thoughts as you work on the question. The interviewer cares about how you solve the problem and your thoughts on it and not if you can keep up a forced conversation. This is not a date.
    Jun 2, 2021 1
    • New
      sCMy14

      New

      sCMy14
      OP
      I'm still trying to getting used to thinking out loud part, currently when I try to think out loud my thought process stops and I just repeat things most of the time
      Jun 2, 2021
  • HERE
    oiEf88

    Go to company page HERE

    oiEf88
    There's a website called pramp. You can do practice interviews with other people who are also practicing. That really helped me get used to interviewing after which I didn't feel awkward. Hope it helps you too
    Jun 2, 2021 1
    • New
      sCMy14

      New

      sCMy14
      OP
      Thanks, will definitely try it.
      Jun 2, 2021
  • Do a LOT of mock interviews
    Interviewbit is a good place for that
    Jun 2, 2021 1
    • New
      sCMy14

      New

      sCMy14
      OP
      How do they work? Like 1:1 with actual people? and do I have to interview them in return or is this a premium service?
      Jun 2, 2021