A Guide to Interview Preparation
A major and daunting aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might come naturally to some people but others feel nervous about being asked about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort that comes with being asked to answer personal questions interviews have turned out to be an extremely intimidating parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the scenario.
Interviews are a great opportunity for applicants to show that their competencies are, their achievements, and potential. It’s been a while since you’ve made it through the first step, with your resume making the cut through ATS scanners, and your name being considered for an interview. This chance to present and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history as well as key abilities and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door when you convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate that increases your chances of getting through the next stage of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews if you have fears about speaking about your personal achievements. Training is the key to success and luckily, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can follow to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your prospective employers:
Be comfortable with difficult questions.
Interviewers ask challenging questions, in part, to elicit information as well as because they want to help you navigate your way out of potentially contentious questions and issues. For instance, consider the question "Why have you decided to quit your current role?"
The answer may be because of management issues, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. No matter the answer but the way in which you phrase your answer will show your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your responses with the greatest objectivity can be. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses such as answers based on feelings or sentiments and do not have any basis in actual facts.
Other questions to consider are "What did you do to get this position?", "Why should we hire your services?", or trick questions such as "Why should us not choose you?" The key is not to lose your cool and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and then follow it up with a short argument or explanation of the reasons you responded in a certain manner. Next, provide examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly the topic, return to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement in a particular project or task it is possible to employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to selection criteria. If you are using STAR, you must state an situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the results.
It’s all in the body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be a daunting task, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. Sit in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask you questions and note your mannerisms. Are you shifting or fidgeting about nervously? Are you looking intimidating, stiff, defensive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect your message you’re trying to make? Do you convey openness, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm?
Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, make sure you review the description of the position. Assuming that you’ve read the description and then used the roles and duties listed therein to modify and customise your resume and other documents for selection It is essential to look at the job description to clearly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be honest and upfront about your strengths and weaknesses. Being open regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your selling points as a potential client. However, signalling your intent to improve your weaknesses is just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the business. The most appropriate person to ask for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you have noticed something intriguing in the job description, or if you have any questions that were left unanswered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job packet or the general page for hiring About section) You can raise them during the interview when the interviewer encourages you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer:
"How can I be the most qualified person for this jobif given the opportunity to join the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on right now"
"What are the opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the job (or in a variety for those applying through SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. A good tip is to provide a range in which you would like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact, fixed amount. Be sure to keep the limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. If, for instance, you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you evaluate your salary expectations.
Having these preparatory steps in your purse is important to be prepared with the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, confident, and confident and courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents or credentials as well as interviews, please get in touch with Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today to receive an free quote or to call us directly to speak to one of our experts on 1300 202 475.
