Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
The most frightening aspects of job searching is the fear of an interview. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people and especially your potential employers. While speaking about themselves may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their careers or their previous achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the discomfort that comes with being asked questions that are personal to them interviews have turned out to be one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are a great way for the applicant to demonstrate their skills are, their achievements, and potential. You have already made it through the first step, with your resume making its way through ATS scanners and being considered for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and further elaborate on the profile of your employer, background as well as key abilities and knowledge is the aforementioned foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer that you’re a good fit this increases your chances of passing through the next phase of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having apprehensions about talking about your personal achievements. The practice is essential and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed ahead of time. The key to a flawless interview is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can use to increase your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your potential employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers ask challenging questions, mostly because they are trying to elicit information, but also, since they want to help you get out of potentially contentious questions and concerns. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current role?"
The answer to this question may be because of management issues, or concerns about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer, however, the manner that you formulate your answer will show your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your reasoning with the greatest objectivity is possible. This means removing emotional responses like answers that are based purely on feelings or emotions and are not substantiated by facts.
Other questions to prepare for include "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should be hiring us?", or trick questions such as "Why should be able to not employ 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. Introduce your idea and then provide a concise note of the reason or reasons why you chose to respond in a specific way. Add specific examples or provide more details. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly the topic, return to the previous section.
Also, if asked to write about your involvement in a project or task then you can utilize to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is often used when responding to selection criteria. When using STAR the first thing you need to do is write a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the result.
The body language
Behaving naturally in a stressful environment can be a challenge but it is possible to try to practice professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting around with a nervousness? Do you appear 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 display sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Consider your strengths and your weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, you should read the job description over again. In the event that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities outlined within to customize and modify your resume and other document of selection, it is important to think about the job description in order to accurately present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront about your strengths and weaknesses. Being open about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your strengths as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to work on your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the job and within the business. The most appropriate person to ask is the interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing on the resume or if you have concerns that weren’t answered by their FAQ page or guide questions (which typically are found in the job application or the general page for hiring about section) Make sure to bring them up at the end of the interview when the interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be the most suitable person for the task, if given the opportunity to work alongside your team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on right now"
"What are the potential opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the position (or in a variety for those applying through SEEK). But, interviewers might want to know what salary you’re expecting to earn. An important point to remember is to offer a range within which you would like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact or set number. Make sure to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a an expansive margin. For example, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, an appropriate range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 or anything in the range of $10,000. Consider additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you evaluate your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your bag is vital to ensure you have the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and certificates, as well as for interviews, please get in touch with Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today for an complimentary quote or contact us directly to speak with one our consultants at 0800 024 129.
