Prepping Effectively for Interviews
One of the most daunting aspects of job searching is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting the approval and support of others and especially your potential employers. Although talking about oneself may come naturally to some people, others are apprehensive about being asked about their professional or previous accomplishments. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked questions that are personal to them Interviews have become one of the biggest and most intimidating parts during the selection process.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are the best way for the applicant to show that their competencies are, their achievements, and potential. You’ve passed the first step with your resume passing an appearance on ATS scanners and getting a callback. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate upon one’s profile, employment history, and key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned step to the front and if you can convince the interviewer you’re a good fit this increases your chances to be selected for the next stage of the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews even if you’re having doubts about speaking about your own achievements. Training is the key to success to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be rehearsed ahead of time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some tips that you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing prospective employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, mostly because they are trying to gain information as well as because they want to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious issues and concerns. For instance, consider the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer to this question could be due to problems with management, or concerns about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will show your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your answer with the greatest objectivity feasible. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses such as responses based on emotions or feelings and are not supported by evidence.
Other important questions to ask include "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should be hiring the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why should us not choose you?" The key is not to lose your cool and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short note of the reason or reasons why you chose to respond in a specific way. Next, provide details or go into more detail. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly, go back to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement in a particular project or task, you may apply this method. STAR Method, which is often used when responding to selection criteria. If you are using STAR you will need to write the Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken then the Result.
The body language
Acting naturally in a stressful environment can be difficult but it is possible to learn to communicate professionally. Put yourself in front of the mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting about nervously? Do you appear rigid, aloof, defensive or reserved in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with the message you’re trying to make? Do you display sincerity, authenticity and genuine interest?
Be aware of your strengths and weak points.
Prior to the interview, ensure that you review the description of the position. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined in it to alter and personalize your resume and other document of selection It is essential to review the job description to honestly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being realistic regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to work on your weaknesses is just as important.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine interest in the job and within the company. The best person to approach questions is your interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like in the job description, or if you have questions that were left unanswered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which can be found in the job packet or their general hiring page about section), raise these at the end of the interview, after your interviewer asks you to pose questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer:
"How can I be the most qualified person for this task, if offered the chance to be part of members of your staff?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline in the present"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are generally advertised with the job (or within a set of options, if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers may still be interested in knowing what you expect to earn. A good tip is to offer a range within which you’d like your salary to fall instead of offering an exact or set number. Be sure to keep the limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. If, for instance, you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a sensible choice would be anything from the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits too and think about these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your bag is vital to be prepared with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interviews, please reach out to Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants are able to guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us now for a free quotation or call us direct to speak with one our experts on 1300 326 135.
