Prepping Effectively for Interviews
A major and daunting aspects of job searching is the daunting interview process. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting the approval and support of others and especially your potential employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may be natural for some however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their work or prior accomplishments. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked questions about their personal life interviews have turned out to be an extremely intimidating parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t need to be the scenario.
Interviews are a crucial method for applicants to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already made it through the first step, with your resume making an appearance on ATS scanners and you being shortlisted for an interview. This opportunity to present and elaborate on your resume, experience and the most important skills and expertise is the proverbial entrance into the interview and if you can convince the interviewer you’re qualified you increase your odds of passing the next phase of the final selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interview questions if you’re struggling with apprehensions about talking about your accomplishments. Training is the key to success, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing potential employers.
Be comfortable with difficult questions.
Interviewers ask challenging questions, in part, to gather information as well as because they want to see you get out of potential contentious issues and concerns. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current job?"
The answer to this question could be due to problems with management, or concerns with work-life balance, etc. No matter the answer however, the manner that you formulate your response will signal your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your answer using as much objectivity can be. This includes removing emotional responses like answers that are based purely on feelings or sentiments and are not substantiated by facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What inspired you to apply for this job?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why do you not hire 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. Start with your statement and follow with a brief reason or summary as to why you responded a certain way. Add instances or elaborate. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly the topic, return to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a particular project or task then you can employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond on selection criteria. When using STAR it is necessary to describe the situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the result.
It’s all in the body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful environment can be a challenge but it is possible to practice professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions of you and observe your behavior. Are you flitting or shifting around with a nervousness? Do you appear uneasy, aggressive, or closed off in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to make? Do you communicate authenticity, openness and genuine enthusiasm?
Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, be sure to review the job description over again. In the event that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and duties listed in it to alter and personalize your resume and other documents for selection It is crucial to review the job description to honestly present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being open regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your selling points as a potential client. However, signalling your intent to improve your weaknesses will also be important.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest in the role and in the company. The best person to inquire questions is your interviewer. If you noticed something interesting from the job descriptions, or if you’ve got any questions that were left unanswered through their FAQ or guide questions (which are usually found in the job description or their general hiring page about section), raise these at the end of the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How do I become the most suitable person for the task, if offered the chance to join the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on at the moment"
"What are the possibilities to advance and further education?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are often advertised with the position (or on a list, if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers may still want to know what salary you’re expecting to earn. The most important thing to do is include a range that you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact number or a set amount. Make sure to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a a wide margin. For example, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, a good choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits as well and consider these when you are evaluating your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your purse is important for ensuring you are in ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as interview preparation, you may get in touch with Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation phases. Contact us today for a free quotation or call us direct for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 871 072.
