While all professions are challenging in their own way, there are some jobs that require even more focus and awareness than usual. In these jobs, a moment of distraction can be problematic, expensive, and even dangerous. To pursue a career in one of these professions, you need to make a steadfast commitment to your job. A bad day at the office will never be a valid excuse in any of these careers. These are four examples of jobs that require such spectacular focus.

Surgeon

Any job in the medical field requires focus and attention to detail, but a career as a surgeon is especially exacting. Surgery requires remarkable precision. Doctors must manipulate tiny components of the human body in specific ways with no margin for error. What’s more, surgery often lasts for many hours. This means the surgeon must keep their brain turned on without even getting a chance to step out of the operating room.

Traffic Control

Managing the comings and goings of vehicles on busy roads requires a keen mind and a steady focus. Someone who manages traffic control must be constantly aware of the situation at hand. Millions of drivers count on their expertise as they sit back and relax in their vehicles. A single mistake by controllers could cause an accident and put lives at risk. What’s more, our entire car-based culture counts on these trusted individuals doing their jobs to perfection.

Pharmacist

Every time you fill a prescription, you’re putting your trust in pharmacists. These professionals use their experience and knowledge to make sure you’re putting the right chemicals in your body. Any mistake could prove deadly. With such high stakes, pharmacists understand the importance of staying focused on the job

Interpreter

Translating written documents is difficult enough, but interpreting conversations or speeches in real time is even more challenging. Not only must you have a firm grasp of the nuances of two languages, but you also have to think quickly to keep the words flowing. What’s more, you know that any mistake could have serious consequences, especially if you’re working in the legal or political realm. When a poor translation could cause costly and dangerous misunderstandings, interpreters know they have to be on their game.

While mental acuity and steady focus are integral to most professions, they’re especially important when the stakes are high and lives are on the line. In order to work in any of these areas, you’ll need to arrive to work at your very sharpest.