By: Michael R. Neece, CEO, Interview Mastery
The following article describes how to maximize your interview effectiveness by engaging the
interviewer throughout the interview. Interviewer attention declines over time. The following
describes how to keep the interviewer fully engaged.
When you start speaking the interviewer is listening with 100% intensity. After 10 seconds they
begin listening with less attention. After 60 seconds their mind begins to wander and they’re
listening at a 50% level. After you’ve been speaking for 90 seconds without interruption, the
interviewer is barely listening at all.
Also an interviewer’s attention level is very difficult to accurately assess because most people are
skilled at nodding their head and saying “hmmm” while looking at you, in an effort to disguise
their wandering mind.
The longer you speak without interruption the less attention the listener is giving you. Hence,
when you deliver a long answer that builds to an important conclusion, often the interviewer is
no longer listening. This is particularly important when you respond to the question “Tell me
about yourself.” Near the end of your long response the interviewer starts to formulate their next
question unless you keep them engaged.
Skilled interviewers ask “behavioral event questions” where you’re asked to describe specific
examples of your experience. In these situations your response can easily last much longer than
90 seconds. Maintain the interviewer’s attention by asking the interviewer a question like, “Is this
the level of detail you’re looking for?” or “Is this the type of example you’re looking for?” Stop
and ask a question whenever you feel you’ve been speaking for more than 90 seconds
continuously.
By asking a question you promote two-way communications and minimize the risk of talking too
much.
Your goals are to ensure you are understood accurately and address their concerns. Engaging the
interviewer in two way communications by asking questions helps you ensure they are listening
while you deliver a detailed response.