Ready Yourself for Interviews
The most intimidating aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. It is a normal consequence of seeking the approval and support of others and especially your potential employers. Although talking about oneself may be a natural thing for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps it is because of 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 aspects in the process of hiring.
This doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are an important means for the candidate to showcase their abilities have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You have already been through the first step by submitting your resume to an appearance on ATS scanners and being considered for an interview. This opportunity to present and further elaborate on the profile of your employer, background and the most important skills and abilities is the proverbial foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer you have what it takes you increase your odds of passing through the next phase of the final selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews in case you’re experiencing fears about speaking about your accomplishments. It is important to practice and luckily, interview questions can be rehearsed before the date. The key to a flawless interview is preparation, and here are some tips that you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your future employers.
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partly because they want to gather information as well as since they want to help you get out of potentially contentious topics and issues. Take for example the question "Why do you want to leave your current role?"
The reason for this could be due to problems with management, or concerns about work-life balance. No matter the answer, however, the manner in which you phrase the answer will indicate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your answer with the greatest objectivity can be. This means eliminating any emotional responses such as responses based on sentiments or feelings, and do not have any basis in facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What inspired you to apply for this role?", "Why should we choose us?", or trick questions like "Why do us not employ 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. Start with your statement and then provide a concise note of the reason or reasons why you responded a certain manner. Next, provide instances or elaborate. After you have explained thoroughly, go back to your original point.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a particular project or task then you can apply the STAR Method, which is typically used to respond on selection criteria. If you are using STAR, you must state the Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken, and lastly, the result.
All it is in the body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful situation could be a challenge, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to ask questions and note your mannerisms. Are you shifting or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Do you appear uneasy, aggressive or shut off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the message you’re trying to convey? Do you convey openness, sincerity and genuine interest?
Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, ensure that you read the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and then used the roles and responsibilities outlined in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection It is crucial to review the job description to honestly package yourself for the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being open about your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your strengths as a potential client. However, showing your determination to work on your weaknesses is just as important.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the business. The best person to ask is the interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing on the resume or you have questions not answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job packet or their general hiring page About section), raise these during the interview, when your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this job, should I be offered the chance to join your 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). But, interviewers might inquire about the amount you’re expecting to earn. An important point to remember is to include a range that you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact or set number. Keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a any wide range. For instance, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, an appropriate range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Also, be aware of additional perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your bag is vital to ensure you have the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured, and be bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials , and also for the preparation for your interview, contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants are able to help you through your preparatory phases. Contact us today to receive a complimentary quote or phone us directly to speak with one of our consultants at 1300 694 635.
