Prepping Effectively for Interviews
One of the most difficult aspects of job searching is the interview stage. The fear of an interview is a natural consequence of seeking recognition and acceptance from other people and especially your potential employers. Although talking about oneself may seem natural to certain people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their career or past achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions Interviews have become an extremely stressful parts during the selection process.
This does not have to be the case.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to showcase their abilities, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already passed the first step, with your resume making an appearance on ATS scanners and you getting a callback. This chance to present and elaborate upon one’s profile, employment history, and key skills and abilities is the proverbial step to the front and if you can convince the interviewer that you’re qualified this increases your chances to be selected for to the next step in the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing apprehensions about talking about your achievements. It is important to practice to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be rehearsed before the date. The key to a flawless interview is preparation. Here are some helpful tips you can use to increase your chances of aceing that interview and impressing future employers.
Be comfortable with difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partly because they want to get information from you as well as since they want to help you navigate your way out of potential contentious issues and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why are you resigning from your current job?"
The answer could be due to management issues, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will show your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your reasoning with the greatest objectivity can be. This includes removing any emotional responses such as answers that are based purely on feelings or sentiments that are not supported by factual evidence.
Other important questions to ask are "What motivated you to apply for this job?", "Why should us choose to hire us?", or trick questions such as "Why do you not take you on?" The key is to not lose composure and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Lead with your point and follow with a brief reason or summary as to why you responded a certain manner. Add examples or further elaborate. After you have explained thoroughly then return to the previous section.
Also, if required to explain your participation in a particular project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could utilize this method. STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to selection criteria. If you are using STAR you will need to write the Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken then the Result.
All it is in the body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be difficult however, you can learn to communicate professionally. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a trusted person to ask you questions and note your mannerisms. Are you shifting or fidgeting about with anxiety? Do you appear rigid, aloof, defensive or aloof in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect what you want to convey? Do you display openness, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Prior to the interview, ensure that you read the job description again. If you have read the job description and utilized the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other document of selection It is essential to consider the job description and how you will describe yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being realistic about your strengths will enable interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to address your weaknesses will also be significant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine enthusiasm for the position and the business. The most appropriate person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you have noticed something intriguing from the job descriptions or you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job application or the general page for hiring About section) Bring them up at the end of the interview, after your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer are:
"How can I be the best person for the jobif given the chance to join your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway right now"
"What are the opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or as part of a range for those applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could inquire about the amount you expect to earn. The most important thing to do is provide a range in which you’d like your pay to fall rather than giving an exact number or a set amount. Keep your range tight instead of giving the possibility of a large margin. For example, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Also, be aware of additional perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you evaluate your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your pocket is crucial for ensuring you are in capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interview preparation, you may contact Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants can guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today for the free quotation or contact us directly to speak to one of our consultants at 1300 291 283.
