Many job seekers fail at the interview stage because they don’t know when to stop talking. While a talkative candidate is a good sign, there can be a fine line between expressing yourself accurately and turning into a chatterbox.

I have interviewed many people in my career, and I would like to share something with you. Your interviewer is not only looking at how you answer questions but is also looking at how well you listen.

Your answers should be like concise mini-essays with a clear beginning, middle and end. Too short and it looks like you have little to say, too lengthy and you have probably babbled and missed the point. Be composed, think before you answer and employ structure.

As you practice for your interview, try to keep your answers brief but complete. Give a focused answer and support it with one clear example from your past experience. Most questions can be answered completely in 60-90 seconds.

Here are some tips on how you could avoid talking too much during an interview:

Prepare

Practice answering questions in a direct manner. Using role-play in preparing for your interview will help you avoid excessive, nervous talking.

Ask for clarification

Sometimes, job seekers end up talking way too much because they do not understand the question in the first place. Don’t be afraid to seek clarification from the interviewer. Only when you understand what the real question is, can you provide better answers.

Ask a question

There are some questions that require longer answers and you need to make sure the interviewer stays engaged in the discussion. You can ask a question like, ‘Would you like some more details?’ The purpose of this question is to keep the interviewers alert with your answer.

Good luck!