By the time you finish reading this sentence, tens (if not hundreds) of stray thoughts will enter your subconscious and distract you from what you are reading. According to a study conducted by Simon Fraser University in Canada, the average continuous attention span for a literate human being falls somewhere between 8-10 seconds. What that means (in case you wandered off mentally) is that the average human being can only focus on a single object with no lapse for 8 seconds before a stray thought or shift of focus creeps into their subconscious.

What does this mean for you as a job seeker? If you’re trying to land a job with a literate employer/hiring manager, you need to be able to sell yourself in those crucial first seconds.  Although it seems unlikely, stray thoughts about your plans for tonight or wondering if you left the stove on could hurt your chances at landing a job.

Here are some tips to help you stand out and keep employers focused on YOU during those crucial first seconds:

In written communication, you can do this easily, by highlighting the most important and relevant information in your resume and cover letter.

When it comes to the interview, those first eight seconds may seem miniscule, but you’ll be surprised at how long you can retain someone’s attention when you stand tall, smile, and project your voice effectively and confidently.

Avoid umm’s and uhh’s; the person who is listening to you won’t hear that you single-handedly increased the company’s profits by 170%, but will notice that you have a hard time presenting yourself.

Avoid distracting accessories or inappropriate clothing—the human brain has a hard enough time trying to pay attention without those big, shiny, monogrammed earrings dangling past your low-cut top.

Distractions don’t end with accessories; poor personal grooming/hygiene and a disheveled appearance will easily lead the interviewer to forget about that great report you published and wonder why you don’t own a hairbrush.

Practice speaking in front of a mirror and time yourself. It may sound silly, but taking out a couple of minutes a day and seeing yourself speak will help boost your presentation skills and make you aware of any changes you need to make. It may also be helpful to record yourself and watch the playback, making notes of ways to improve yourself.

Selling yourself in a few seconds sounds impossible, but if you’ve ever watched a 30-second TV commercial and gone running to purchase that universal all-in-one remote control/microwave device, you know how effective and important those seconds can be!


  Melody Yaghoubi
  Interactive Resources