Mastering Interview Readiness
The most daunting aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked about their professional or previous accomplishments. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort arising from being asked questions about their personal life The interview process has evolved into one of the biggest and most intimidating aspects during the selection process.
This does not have to be the situation.
Interviews are the best means for the candidate to showcase their abilities are, their achievements, and potential. It’s been a while since you’ve made it through the first step and your resume has made it through ATS scanners, and your name being selected for an interview. The chance to show and elaborate on the profile of your employer, background and the most important skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a foot in the door when you convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate this increases your chances of passing the next step of the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having fears about speaking about your accomplishments. The practice is essential, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation. 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 are able to ask tough questions in part, to gain information as well as because they want to help how you can get rid of potential contentious issues and worries. Consider, for instance, the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer to this question could be due to management concerns, or issues about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer but the way that you formulate the answer will indicate your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Answer honestly and explain your reasoning using as much objectivity is possible. This means removing any emotional responses such as answers that are based purely on sentiments or feelings, that are not supported by facts.
Other questions to be prepared for include "What inspired you to apply for this position?", "Why should be hiring your services?", or trick questions such as "Why do you not choose you?" The key is to stay calm and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and then follow it up with a short argument or explanation of the reasons you responded in a certain way. Then, add details or go into more detail. After you have explained thoroughly you can go back to your previous point.
Similarly, if you are requested to provide a description of your participation in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could apply an approach called the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to selection criteria. In using STAR it is necessary to describe a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken followed by the results.
All it is in the body language
Acting naturally in a stressful situation may be a challenge However, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask questions and note your mannerisms. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you seem rigid, aloof, defensive or aloof in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to make? Do you communicate openness, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, make sure you read the description of the position. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume as well as other selection documents, it is important to consider the job description in order to accurately present yourself to the interviewer. Be upfront and honest regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being honest about your strengths will enable interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a potential client. But, indicating your intention to work on your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest in the role and in the business. The best person to ask questions is your interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like on the resume, or if you have any questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or guide questions (which can be found in the job packet or the general page for hiring About section), raise these after the interview, after your interviewer asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer are:
"How can I be the most suitable person for the job, if I am offered the chance to work with you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway in the present"
"What are the potential opportunities to advance and further education?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Other benefits and packages for salary are often advertised with the position (or as part of a range, in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you are expecting. An important point to remember is to give a range of where you’d like your pay to be, rather than providing an exact number or a set amount. Keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. For example, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a good range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be aware of any other benefits and perks also and take these into consideration when you consider your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your pocket is crucial to equip yourself with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, be self-assured and courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as the preparation for your interview, contact Perth Resume. Our knowledgeable and professional consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation steps. Contact us now for the complimentary quote or to call us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 1300 240 606.
