A Guide to Interview Preparation
A major and intimidating aspects of job searching is the dreaded interview round. Fear of being interviewed 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 come naturally to some people however, many are nervous about being asked about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the discomfort that comes with being asked to answer personal questions, the interview has become one of the biggest and most intimidating parts that are required to hire.
This doesn’t need to be the situation.
Interviews are an important opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already made it through the first step by submitting your resume to it through ATS scanners and your name being considered for an interview. This opportunity to present and elaborate on your profile, work history as well as the key skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a step to the front when you convince the interviewer that you’re qualified this increases your chances to be selected for the next phase of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having fears about speaking about your accomplishments. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some helpful tips you can apply to boost your chances at nailing that interview and impressing your future employers:
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers ask challenging questions, partially because they wish to elicit information, but also, because they want to see how you can get rid of potential contentious issues and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why are you resigning from your current position?"
The answer to the question could be due to managerial issues, or worries about work-life balance. Whatever the reason however, the manner the way you frame your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your reasoning with the greatest objectivity possible. This means eliminating emotional responses like responses based on feelings or emotions and are not substantiated by factual evidence.
Other questions to consider include "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should us choose to hire you?", or trick questions like "Why should us not take you on?" The key is not to lose your cool and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Lead with your point and follow with a brief explanation or a brief summary of why you chose to respond in a specific manner. Add instances or elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly the topic, return to your original point.
In the same way, if you’re required to explain your participation in a task or project and you are required to describe your involvement, you could utilize the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. If you are using STAR you will need to write an situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken, and lastly, the result.
All it is in the body language
Acting naturally in a stressful environment can be a daunting task However, you can practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting about with anxiety? Are you looking stiff, standoffish, defensive or shut off in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with your message you’re trying to make? Do you show authenticity, openness and genuine concern?
Consider your strengths and weak points.
Before the interview, make sure you read the job description over again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and then used the roles and responsibilities described therein to modify and customise your resume as well as other selection documents It is imperative to look at the job description to clearly present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being honest regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a prospect. However, announcing your intention to improve your weak points will be equally notable.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine enthusiasm about the job and the company. The best person to inquire questions is your interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like within the description of your job, or you have questions that have not been answered by their FAQ page or guide questions (which typically are found in the job packet or their general hiring page About section) You can raise them during the interview when the interviewer asks you to pose questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the jobif given the chance to work with your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway in the present"
"What are the possibilities for further development and training?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Other benefits and packages for salary are often advertised with the job (or as part of a range, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still inquire about the amount you expect to earn. An important point to remember is to offer a range within which you’d like your salary to fall instead of offering an exact or set number. Be sure to keep the limit to a narrow range instead of providing a wide margin. If, for instance, you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, an appropriate range would be in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Consider other perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your back pocket is essential to equip yourself with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, feel confident and bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for the preparation for your interview, contact Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants can guide you through the interview preparation phases. Contact us today for an no-cost quote or contact us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 1300 189 376.
