Ready Yourself for Interviews
A major and daunting aspects of job hunting 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. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be a natural thing for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their careers or their previous successes. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked questions about their personal life, the interview has become one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts during the selection process.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are the best opportunity for applicants to showcase their abilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve already passed the first step and your resume has made the cut through ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. This opportunity to present and elaborate on the profile of your employer, background as well as key abilities and experience is the equivalent of getting a foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate, it boosts your chances to be selected for the next phase of the selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews in case you’re experiencing concerns about presenting your own achievements. Practice is key to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can follow to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your potential employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions partially because they wish to elicit information, but also, in order to help you come out of potentially contentious questions and worries. Consider, for instance, the question "Why do you want to leave your current role?"
The answer to the question may be because of problems with management, or concerns about work-life balance. No matter the answer, however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will show your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Be honest and articulate your answer with as much objectivity as feasible. This means eliminating any emotional responses , such as responses based on emotions or feelings that are not supported by actual facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should we hire your services?", or trick questions like "Why should be able to not choose you?" The key is to stay calm and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and then follow it up with a short reason or summary as to why you responded a certain manner. After that, you can add instances or elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly, go back to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a task or project, you may utilize an approach called the STAR Method, which is often used when responding to criteria for selection. If you are using STAR, you must state a context,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the results.
The body language
Being natural in a difficult situation can be difficult but it is possible to make sure you are practicing professional communication. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions of you and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Do you appear uneasy, aggressive or aloof in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the message you’re trying to make? Do you convey sincerity, authenticity and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, ensure that you read the job description again. If you have read the job description and applied the roles and responsibilities described therein to modify and customise your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to think about the job description in order to accurately package yourself for the interviewer. Be candid and open regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being realistic about your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a prospect. However, announcing your intention to address your weak points will be equally significant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show 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 have noticed something intriguing on the resume, or if you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which can be found in the job description or the general page for hiring about section), raise these during the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer are:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the jobif offered the chance to work alongside members of your staff?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway right now"
"What are the potential opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are generally advertised with the position (or as part of a range, when applying via SEEK). However, the interviewer may be interested in knowing what you expect to earn. One important tip is to offer a range within which you’d like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact number or a set amount. Keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. For example, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, a reasonable choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Be mindful of other perks and benefits as well and consider these when you think about your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important to equip yourself with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, self-assured, and be bold.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials , and also for interview preparation, you may contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today for a free quotation or phone us directly for a chat with one of our consultants on 1300 312 711.
