What to Do When Your Mind Goes Blank

If you landed the job interview of your dreams, you’re likely excited and hopeful. However, many people in your situation find themselves facing that awkward moment during the interview when they have nothing to say. The best way to prevent dead silence is to be prepared. However, it is one thing to be prepared mentally and another to be prepared with actual items that can prevent the blank stare indicating that your mind is blank.

Get prepared for your interview by creating a spreadsheet listing all your duties at previous jobs. Print this list, put it in your interview folder and carry the folder with you to the interview. Study this list while you’re waiting for the interviewer to call you into his office. When the hiring manager asks about any additional experiences you've had, glance down at the list, and choose one or two job duties to discuss.

Make a list of the awards and accolades you've received during the course of your career, and mention them if your mind is blank. Even if the interviewer doesn’t bring up the topic, discuss how earning awards and getting recognized for completing certain tasks lead to opportunities that allowed you to gain even more valuable job experiences.

Research the company well, even if you think you already know a lot about the organization, and jot down the ways in which your specific skill set can help the company achieve its mission. Try not to come off too cocky, but be confident when discussing your abilities and willingness to help the company grow.

While researching the company, jot down some questions on a separate sheet of paper that relate to the company, and try to make them questions that you don’t already know the answer to. When given the opportunity to ask questions, don’t mention salary or benefits, as these subjects sometimes turn employers off. Instead, ask questions about the company that relate to the specific job you're interviewing for. For example, ask about how the specific position you're interviewing for benefits the company as a whole.

Finally, have your list of references handy. The last thing you want is for your mind to go blank when trying to remember your references. If you have them handy, you can hand the interviewer the list instead of allowing your nerves to take over, leaving you with nothing to say.

Keep your paperwork with you, preferably in a folder, and look through it when needed. This shows the interviewer that you are prepared as well as organized. Most importantly, when you have a spreadsheet listing your previous job duties and a list of company-related questions at your fingertips, you'll be prepared to have all the right things to say instead of having nothing to say.

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