What do you do if you're feeling overwhelmed and distracted during an interview?

Distraction is breaking of connection and going to past/present or irrational thought process. It can happen due to anxiety, external distractions or lowering of confidence due to unexpected small happenings like stern talk, perfume, interview moving on different paths and tones. How to handle is a process which we automatically do or should do - Acknowledge and be honest to accept distraction. - Focus on the present and hard boot the mind to ensure you are actively listening. - Stay organised and adjust the external distraction if any. - Anxiety can be addsd by relaxation techniques such as concentration on breathing. Do reflect once the interview is over on how well you managed the distraction and what improvement you need to undertake.

Stress always sparks Fight or Flight. The mantra is to hold your ground, pause and then respond. Mind you, not react. What happens in this brief time of less than 10 seconds. By pausing and breathing, you regain control, the most important aspect. Our mind is capable of remaining stable under stress unless we help it. I remember, having a difficult boss who will be verbally arrogant in morning meetups. Losing oneself was common amongst all the attendees. Breathing and ensuring my heartbeats remains normal ( Garmin at my wrist) were the tasks at hand. Post that we could respond positively and gain back the lost ground if any.

In place of accepting negative thoughts during an interview, you should intentionally strive to create positive thoughts which will eventually affect your other responses. I had an interview for a technical role in December 2023. Halfway, I was asked a tough question. It was tough because I had had no prior related work experience. For almost 20 seconds the room was quiet as I battled with feelings of loss and regret. Eventually I intetionally sought to create positive thoughts in my mind about how I can link my previous experience to this unearthed area in my field. I got the job.

Mindfulness plays a key role in mastering any situation. Being actively present would help one engage the interviewer more and possibly steer the course in your preferred direction. focus on giving your best in the current situation because there is nothing much you can do about it anyway, listen carefully to what is being asked, and answer it to your best capabilities. It's normal to feel apprehensive about your performance and the results but do not let it impede you from performing your best.