Steps to Interview Readiness
Perhaps the most daunting aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people in particular from potential employers. Although talking about oneself may come naturally to some people but others feel nervous about being asked questions regarding their career or past successes. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked personal questions, the interview has become one of the biggest and most intimidating aspects that are required to hire.
This does not have to be the case.
Interviews are a great way for the applicant to showcase their abilities, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already been through the first step with your resume passing an appearance on ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. This opportunity to present and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history and the most important skills and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door: if you convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate you increase your odds of passing the next phase of the selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews if you have doubts about speaking about your personal achievements. The practice is essential and luckily, interview questions can be rehearsed prior to the time. The key to a flawless interview is preparation. Here are some tips that you can follow to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your future employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, in part, to elicit information, but also, because they want to help you come out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current role?"
The answer to this question may be because of management issues, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. No matter the answer however, the manner the way you frame your response will signal your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your answer in the most objective way can be. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like responses based on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by facts.
Other questions to be prepared for are "What inspired you to apply for this job?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions such as "Why should us not choose 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 follow with a brief reason or summary as to the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Then, add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your original point.
In the same way, if you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a particular project or task it is possible to employ the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond the selection requirements. In using STAR you will need to write a context,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken followed by the final result.
All it is in the body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be difficult However, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions and note your mannerisms. Are you flitting or shifting about nervously? Do you seem rigid, aloof, defensive or aloof in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match the point you are trying to convey? Do you communicate authenticity, openness, and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and your weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, you should review the job description over again. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined in the description to make changes to your resume and other selection documents It is imperative to think about the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront about your strengths and weaknesses. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your strengths as a prospective client. However, signalling your intent to improve your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest in the job and within the business. The most appropriate person to ask is the interviewer. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting in the job description or you have questions that were left unanswered through their FAQ or guide questions (which are usually found in the job application or the general page for hiring About section), raise these after the interview, after your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer include:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the jobif offered the chance to work alongside the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on currently"
"What are the possibilities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the job (or in a variety, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. One important tip is to provide a range in which you would like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact number or a set amount. Be sure to keep the limit to a narrow range instead of providing an expansive margin. For instance, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, an appropriate range would be in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anything in the range of $10,000. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
These steps to prepare in your bag is vital for ensuring you are in capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and bold.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials and for the preparation for your interview, reach out to Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can help you with your interview preparation stages. Contact us today for an free quote or call us direct to speak to one of our experts on 1300 694 635.
