Focusing
Focus is a thinking skill that helps us pay attention to what we are doing.
![](http://images.ctfassets.net/4mpdf15r5lc4/2BaoUM3uxgiYGWex5vlJpX/b0c0ddefbc2f360348a102b62f442580/focusing_2x.webp)
It’s all about: concentrating, staying engaged and paying attention.
Your focusing skill
Lots of things can get in the way and distract us while we're concentrating.
Your education will have played a big part in the development of your focus. You’ll have practised your focus by:
- doing homework
- concentrating on tests
- listening to teachers and classmates
Being able to concentrate on what you’re doing helps you complete tasks quickly and more effectively.
Top tips for developing focus
- In general: Ditch the devices. We all love social media, and chatting to friends is so easy online. But set aside time to switch off and do other hobbies outwith your devices.
- In school: Practise paying attention in class by listening to what your teacher is saying and asking you to do. Take your time doing homework so you can concentrate and ignore distractions.
- In work: Make sure you’re listening to your customers and colleagues by not scrolling on your devices while they speak. Tune out non-essential information by completing one task at a time.
Describing your focusing skill to employers
Employers want to hear in your CVs, applications and interviews about how you’ve used your focus. They’ll want to know you can see a task through to the end in good time. You may be asked to describe a time you:
- sorted information into categories to help break up a task
- paid attention to a particular piece of work to achieve an end goal
- filtered out unnecessary information when working on a project or task
Applying your skills
Explore different ways you can apply your skills and learn more about them.
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Impress at a job interview
It's important to highlight your skills in an interview and we're here to help you do that.
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Explore industries
Learn what jobs and opportunities are out there. You could make a big impact in one of Scotland's growing industries.
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