The in-person interview is one of the most important stages of the hiring process. In fact, the argument could be made that it’s the most important stage of the process.

That’s why it’s critical for job seekers and job candidates to stay as focused as possible during the entire process. If you don’t stay focused, then it could cost you an offer of employment, and quite possibly, a great job.

(In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we say “face-to-face interview,” it can be a virtual interview or an in-person interview. In either case, you’re speaking with somebody face-to-face, either in person or online.)

With all of this in mind, below are three tips for staying focused during your job interview so that you can perform as well as you possibly can:

#1—Present yourself in the best manner and make a great first impression.

This starts with how you present yourself physically—everything from personal appearance to body language to facial expressions to the way in which you answer questions. And of course, you also want to effectively communicate evidence of your skills, abilities, accomplishments, and experience to everybody involved in the interview (or the interview process).

#2—Remember your top objective: an offer of employment

Your number-one goal during an interview, regardless of whether it’s an-person interview or a virtual interview, is to secure an offer of employment. During the interview, forget about everything else, including whether or not you want the job.

Your only objective is to do everything you can to receive an offer. That way, you’ll have more options, and when you have more options, you can make better decisions.

#3—Make sure that you ask good questions.

The first step is to make sure that you ask questions. The next step is to make sure that you ask good questions.

Remember that you are interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing you. That’s because you want as much information as possible on which to base your decision, and asking good questions is a great way to get the information you need.

Thinking about too many things during your interview can be dangerous. That’s why it’s crucial to clear your mind and focus only on the things that matter.

Use the three tips presented above to mentally prepare for your next face-to-face interview. They could dramatically increase the chances that you’ll receive an offer of employment that might represent the next great step in your career!

The Doepker Group has experience placing professionals in the Information Technology and Engineering fields, and we can place you, as well.

We invite you to search through our open positions. You can start the process by creating a profile and/or submitting your resume.