Optimizing Your Interview Preparation
One of the most frightening aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people and especially your potential employers. While speaking about themselves may seem natural to certain people however, many are nervous about being asked about their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked questions about their personal life interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most intimidating parts during the selection process.
It doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are a crucial opportunity for applicants to showcase their abilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve completed the initial step and your resume has made an appearance on ATS scanners and being selected for an interview. This opportunity to present and elaborate on the profile of your employer, background and the most important skills and expertise is the proverbial way to get noticed If you can convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances of passing to the next step in the selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews in case you’re experiencing doubts about speaking about your personal achievements. It is important to practice to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some helpful tips you can use to increase your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions partially because they wish to elicit information, but also, because they want to see you come out of potentially contentious questions and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer to this question could be due to problems with management, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase the answer will indicate your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your reasoning with as much objectivity as is possible. This includes removing all emotional responses, like answers based on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for are "What made you apply for this job?", "Why should be hiring us?", or trick questions like "Why should you 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. Begin with your topic and follow up with a short explanation or a brief summary of why you chose to respond in a specific way. Next, provide specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your original point.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a particular project or task, you may use an approach called the STAR Method, which is often used when responding on selection criteria. When using STAR you will need to write a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken, and lastly, the final result.
It’s all in the body language
Acting naturally in a stressful situation could be a tall order, but you can always practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting about nervously? Do you look intimidating, stiff, defensive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match the message you’re trying to make? Do you show authenticity, openness, and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Before you go to the interview, be sure to go over the job description over again. Assuming you read the job description and applied the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to consider the job description to honestly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being truthful about your strengths can allow the interviewer to see your unique selling points as a prospect. However, showing your determination to address your weak points will be equally significant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the company. The most appropriate person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting within the description of your job or if you have questions that were left unanswered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which typically are found in the job description or the general page for hiring about section) You can raise them at the conclusion of the interview, after your interviewer asks you to pose questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this task, if given the opportunity to work alongside you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on currently"
"What are the potential opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or within a set of options, if applying through SEEK). However, the interviewer may want to know what salary you anticipate earning. A good tip is to give a range of where you would like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact or fixed number. Make sure to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a any wide range. If, for instance, you expect to make $75,000 a year, an appropriate range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anything in the range of $10,000. Consider other perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your pocket is crucial to ensure you have the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as interview preparation, you may reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today for an free quotation or call us direct to speak with one our consultants at 1300 189 376.
