Prepping Effectively for Interviews
A major and intimidating aspects of job hunting is the dreaded interview round. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting to seek the approval and support of others, especially from your prospective employers. While speaking about themselves may be a natural thing for some but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their work or prior achievements. Perhaps due to modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked questions about their personal life interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most intimidating aspects that are required to hire.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a great opportunity for applicants to prove their capabilities have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You have already passed the first step and your resume has made its way through ATS scanners and your name being shortlisted for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate further on your profile, work history as well as key abilities and expertise is the proverbial entrance into the interview: if you convince the interviewer that you’re a good fit this increases your chances of getting through to the next step in the selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing doubts about speaking about your personal achievements. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced prior to the time. The key to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can implement to improve your chances at nailing that interview and impressing future employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers pose challenging questions in part, to elicit information, but also, because they want to help you come out of potentially contentious topics and issues. Consider, for instance, the question "Why are you leaving your current role?"
The reason for this may be because of management issues, or concerns about work-life balance. Whatever the reason but the way the way you frame your answer will show your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your reasoning with the greatest objectivity is possible. This means eliminating emotional responses like answers based on sentiments or feelings, and are not supported by evidence.
Other questions to consider include "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should us choose to hire you?", or trick questions like "Why do you not choose you?" The key is to not lose composure and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and follow up with a short note of the reason or reasons the reasons you responded in a certain way. Add instances or elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained the topic, return to the point you made earlier.
Also, if requested to provide a description of your participation on a 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 often used when responding to selection criteria. If you are using STAR, you must state the scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the final result.
It’s all in the body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful environment can be a tall order However, you can learn to communicate professionally. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask you questions and observe your behavior. Are you moving or fidgeting about with anxiety? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive or reserved in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the point you are trying to convey? Do you show genuineness, honesty, and genuine interest?
Take a look at your strengths and weak points.
Before the interview, make sure you read the job description once more. Assuming you read the job description and then used the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other selection documents It is essential to consider the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to note your unique selling points as a potential client. However, showing your determination to work on your weak points will be equally important.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the company. The best person to inquire for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting from the job descriptions, or if you’ve got any questions that have not been answered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which are usually found in the job application or the general page for hiring About section) Make sure to bring them up during the interview, when your interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer:
"How can I be the best person for the job, if I am given the chance to join the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on in the present"
"What are the opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Other benefits and packages for salary are often advertised with the job (or within a set of options, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might inquire about the amount you expect to earn. The most important thing to do is give a range of where you’d like your salary to be based instead of giving an exact, fixed amount. Keep your limit to a narrow range instead of providing the possibility of a large margin. For example, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, a good range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of other benefits and perks too and think about these when you evaluate your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your back pocket is essential for ensuring you are in capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents or credentials as well as the preparation for your interview, contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to guide you through the interview preparation phases. Contact us now for an complimentary quote or phone us directly to speak to one of our consultants at 1300 202 475.
