Steps to Interview Readiness
A major and difficult aspects of job hunting is the dreaded interview round. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others and especially your potential employers. Although talking about oneself may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the discomfort arising from being asked questions about their personal life interviews have turned out to be an extremely nerve-wracking parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t need to be the case.
Interviews are an important opportunity for applicants to prove their capabilities are, their achievements, and potential. You’ve already been through the first step, with your resume making the cut through ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. The chance to show and further elaborate on your resume, experience, and key skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a step to the front If you can convince the interviewer that you’re a good fit this increases your chances of passing the next phase of the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with concerns about presenting your achievements. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can apply to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your future employers:
Be comfortable with difficult questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions in part, to elicit information, but also, since they want to help you come out of potential contentious issues and issues. Take for example the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?"
The answer could be due to problems with management, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason however, the manner that you express your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your response using as much objectivity possible. This means removing emotional responses like answers that are based purely on sentiments or feelings, and are not supported by factual evidence.
Other questions to prepare for are "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why do we not hire you?" 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 then provide a concise explanation or a brief summary of the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Then, add examples or further elaborate. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly you can go back to the previous section.
In the same way, if you’re required to explain your participation in a task or project and you are required to describe your involvement, you could employ the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. When using STAR, you must state an scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken followed by the result.
The body language
The ability to act naturally in difficult situation can be a daunting task, but you can always make sure you are practicing professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a friend you trust to inquire about your concerns and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting around with a nervousness? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive or aloof in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the message you’re trying to make? Do you display openness, sincerity, and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Prior to your interview, ensure that you review the description of the position. In the event that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities listed in it to alter and personalize your resume and other document of selection It is crucial to consider the job description to clearly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be honest and upfront about your strengths and weaknesses. Being open about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your unique selling points as a prospective client. However, announcing your intention to work on your weak points will be equally significant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is to show genuine interest in the job and within the business. The best person to ask is the interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing within the description of your job, or if you have questions not answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job application or the general page for hiring About section) Make sure to bring them up after the interview when the interviewer asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer:
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the task, if offered the chance to be part of the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline at the moment"
"What are the opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the job (or within a set of options, in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you are expecting. The most important thing to do is provide a range in which you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact or fixed number. Keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a a wide margin. For example, if you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 or anything in the range of $10,000. Be aware of any other perks and benefits as well and consider these when you evaluate your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your purse is important to be prepared with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials , and also for interview preparation, you may contact Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants are able to assist you in your preparation steps. Contact us now for the free quote or contact us directly to speak with one our consultants at 1300 326 135.
