Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
One of the most difficult aspects of the job search is the interview stage. It is a normal consequence of seeking the approval and support of others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their careers or their previous accomplishments. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the fear of being asked to answer personal questions The interview process has evolved into among the more intimidating parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the scenario.
Interviews are the best means for the candidate to demonstrate their skills as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. It’s been a while since you’ve passed the first step with your resume passing it through ATS scanners and being shortlisted for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate on your resume, experience as well as key abilities and knowledge is the aforementioned foot in the door: if you convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances of passing the next phase of the final selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews even if you’re having doubts about speaking about your own achievements. It is important to practice to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be rehearsed in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some helpful tips you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing your future employers:
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions mostly because they are trying to gain information as well as because they want to see you get out of potentially contentious topics and worries. For instance, consider the question "Why have you decided to quit your current role?"
The reason for this could be due to problems with management, or concerns about work-life balance. No matter the answer however, the manner that you express your answer will show your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your response with the greatest objectivity can be. This means that you should eliminate all emotional responses, like answers based on feelings or sentiments and are not substantiated by actual facts.
Other questions to be prepared for include "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why should us not choose you?" The key is not to lose your cool and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Lead with your point and follow with a brief argument or explanation of why you responded a certain way. Next, provide examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly, go back to the point you made earlier.
If you’re required to explain your participation in a task or project it is possible to apply the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. In using STAR it is necessary to describe an scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the result.
All it is in the body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful environment can be a tall order however, you can try to practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to inquire about your concerns and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting about with anxiety? Are you looking uneasy, aggressive or shut off in your body expression? 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?
Consider your strengths and weaknesses
Before you go to the interview, you should go over the job description over again. If you have read the job description and then used the roles and responsibilities described within to customize and modify your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to think about the job description and how you will package yourself for the interviewer. Be candid and open regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being truthful about your strengths will enable the interviewer to see your selling points as a potential customer. However, announcing your intention to work on your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm 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 within the description of your job or you have concerns that weren’t answered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job packet or the general page for hiring about section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview, when your interviewer asks you to pose questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer include:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this task, if given the opportunity to join you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway currently"
"What are the potential opportunities for further development and training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Other benefits and packages for salary are generally advertised with the position (or as part of a range if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you expect to earn. The most important thing to do is offer a range within which you’d like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact or fixed number. Make sure to keep your range tight instead of giving any wide range. If, for instance, you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, an appropriate range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be aware of any other perks and benefits too and think about these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your bag is vital to equip yourself with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and bold.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you through your preparatory steps. Contact us today for your free quotation or contact us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 993 659.
