A Guide to Interview Preparation
Perhaps the most intimidating aspect of job hunts is the daunting interview process. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting recognition and acceptance from other people in particular from potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might come naturally to some people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their careers or their previous accomplishments. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked questions that are personal to them Interviews have become one of the biggest and most stressful parts that are required to hire.
It doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are the best opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their skills have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You have already passed the first step, with your resume making an appearance on ATS scanners and being selected for an interview. This opportunity to present and elaborate upon your profile, work history as well as the key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned step to the front and if you can convince the interviewer you have what it takes this increases your chances of passing through the next phase of the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with concerns about presenting your achievements. It is important to practice, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The key to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some helpful tips you can follow to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing future employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions in part, to gain information, but also, because they want to see you navigate your way out of potentially contentious questions and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?"
The reason for this may be because of problems with management, or concerns with work-life balance, etc. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase your response will signal your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Be honest and articulate your answer in the most objective way feasible. This includes removing emotional responses like answers that are based purely on emotions or feelings and are not substantiated by factual evidence.
Other important questions to ask include "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should be hiring your services?", or trick questions like "Why do you not hire you?" The key is not to lose your cool and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and then follow it up with a short reason or summary as to why you responded a certain manner. After that, you can add details or go into more detail. After you have explained thoroughly, go back to the previous section.
If you’re asked to write about your involvement in a task or project and you are required to describe your involvement, you could use an approach called the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to selection criteria. When you use STAR you will need to write the context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the result.
All it is in the body language
Behaving naturally in a stressful situation could be a challenge, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask questions of you and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you look intimidating, stiff, defensive or aloof in your body and speech? 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 interest?
Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses.
Before you go to the interview, be sure to review the job description over again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection It is crucial to review the job description to clearly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be upfront and honest on your strength and weakness. Being open about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your selling points as a potential customer. However, showing your determination to improve your weak points will be equally notable.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the company. The most appropriate person to ask questions is your interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing from the job descriptions or if you have any questions that were left unanswered through their FAQ or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job application or their general hiring page about section), raise these during the interview, when your interviewer asks you to pose questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer are:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the task, if given the opportunity to join you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on at the moment"
"What are the potential opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are often advertised with the job (or within a set of options for those applying through SEEK). But, interviewers might want to know what salary you anticipate earning. A good tip is to include a range that you would like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the limit to a narrow range instead of providing a wide margin. For instance, if are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be mindful of other perks and benefits too and think about these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your pocket is crucial to be prepared with the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation steps. Contact us now for the complimentary quote or contact us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 189 376.
