Prepping Effectively for Interviews
One of the most frightening aspects of job searching is the interview stage. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people in particular from potential employers. Although talking about oneself may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions Interviews have become one of the biggest and most stressful parts in the process of hiring.
This doesn’t need to be the situation.
Interviews are a crucial means for the candidate to demonstrate their skills have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You have already been through the first step with your resume passing its way through ATS scanners and you being selected for an interview. This opportunity to present and elaborate upon the profile of your employer, background, and key skills and abilities is the proverbial way to get noticed: 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 if you have doubts about speaking about your achievements. Practice is key to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced in advance. The key to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some tips that you can apply to boost your chances of getting through that interview and impressing future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers ask challenging questions, partially because they wish to get information from you, but also, in order to help you come out of potentially contentious questions and concerns. For instance, consider the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer to the question could be due to managerial issues, or worries about work-life balance. No matter the answer but the way that you express your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your response with as much objectivity as possible. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like answers that are based purely on emotions or feelings and do not have any basis in actual facts.
Other important questions to ask include "What motivated you to apply for this role?", "Why should be hiring the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why should us not take you on?" The key is to remain calm and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow up with a short reason or summary as to why you responded a certain way. Then, add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly then return to your original point.
In the same way, if you’re asked to write about your involvement in a project or task then you can apply this method. STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to criteria for selection. When using STAR you will need to write a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the final result.
It’s all in the body language
The ability to act naturally in difficult situation can be a tall order however, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask you questions and observe your behavior. Are you moving or fidgeting around with a nervousness? Do you seem intimidating, stiff, defensive, or closed off in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with the message you’re trying to make? Do you communicate sincerity, authenticity and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weak points.
Before the interview, be sure to read the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and then used the roles and responsibilities outlined in the description to make changes to your resume as well as other selection documents It is imperative to consider the job description in order to accurately present yourself to the interviewer. Be upfront and honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Being truthful about your strengths can allow the interviewer to note your selling points as a potential customer. However, signalling your intent to work on your weaknesses will be just as important.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting within the description of your job, or if you have any questions that have not been answered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are usually found in the job description or the general page for hiring About section) Make sure to bring them up at the conclusion of the interview, after your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer include:
"How can I be the most suitable person for the job, if I am given the chance to be part of you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway right now"
"What are the chances to further develop and learn?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the job (or on a list, if applying through SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you are expecting. A good tip is to provide a range in which you would like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact or fixed number. Try to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a a wide margin. For instance, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, an appropriate range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be mindful of other benefits and perks in addition to these when you consider your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your bag is vital to equip yourself with the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and be courageous.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for interview preparation, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants are able to help you through your preparatory phases. Contact us today for a complimentary quote or phone us directly to speak with one our experts on 1300 202 475.
