Ready Yourself for Interviews
The most daunting aspect of job hunts is the daunting interview process. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek the approval and support of others in particular from potential employers. While speaking about themselves may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their careers or their previous successes. Perhaps out of modesty and the discomfort arising from being asked to answer personal questions The interview process has evolved into among the more stressful parts that are required to hire.
This doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a crucial method for applicants to show that their competencies as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve already been through the first step with your resume passing the cut through ATS scanners, and your name being shortlisted for an interview. This chance to present and elaborate upon the profile of your employer, background as well as the key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned entrance into the interview and if you can convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate this increases your chances of passing the next stage of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having fears about speaking about your achievements. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed in advance. The key to a flawless interview is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing prospective employers:
Be comfortable with difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, mostly because they are trying to gather information however, also since they want to help you navigate your way out of potential contentious issues and concerns. For instance, consider the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer could be due to managerial issues, or worries about work-life balance. Whatever the reason however, the manner in which you phrase the answer will indicate your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your response with as much objectivity as feasible. This means eliminating emotional responses like responses based on feelings or sentiments that are not supported by facts.
Other questions to consider include "What motivated you to apply for this job?", "Why should us choose to hire us?", or trick questions like "Why should be able to not employ you?" The key is to stay calm and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow up with a short argument or explanation of why you responded a certain manner. Then, add instances or elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your original point.
Similarly, if you are requested to provide a description of your participation in a particular project or task, you may utilize 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 will need to write the context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the final result.
It’s all in the body language
Being natural in a stressful situation may be a challenge but it is possible to practice professional communication. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your behavior. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you seem rigid, aloof, defensive, or closed off in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect your message you’re trying to convey? Do you convey openness, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses
Before you go to the interview, you should read the job description once more. Assuming you read the job description and then used the roles and duties listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other selection documents, it is important to think about the job description to clearly present yourself to the interviewer. Be candid and open concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being honest regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your selling points as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to work on your weaknesses will be just as significant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the business. The best person to approach for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you noticed something interesting on the resume or if you have questions not answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job packet or in the general page for hiring About section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview, when your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer are:
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the task, if given the chance to work alongside you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects on right now"
"What are the chances to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are generally advertised with the job (or within a set of options if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could inquire about the amount you anticipate earning. An important point to remember is to provide a range in which you’d like your salary to fall instead of offering an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. For example, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, a sensible choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Consider additional perks and benefits as well and consider these when you are evaluating your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important to equip yourself with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and bold.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today for a no-cost quote or to call us directly to speak to one of our experts on 03 5420 1563.
