Prepping Effectively for Interviews
A major and difficult aspects of job hunting is the daunting interview process. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others in particular from potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the anxiety that comes from being asked questions about their personal life, the interview has become among the more stressful parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the scenario.
Interviews are the best way for the applicant to showcase their abilities, achievements, and potentials. You have already been through the first step and your resume has made it through ATS scanners and being selected for an interview. The chance to show and further elaborate on the profile of your employer, background, and key skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a step to the front: if you convince the interviewer you have what it takes, it boosts your chances of passing through the next phase of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews if you have doubts about speaking about your accomplishments. The practice is essential to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can use to increase your chances of getting through that interview and impressing future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, in part, to gather information, but also, in order to help you come out of potentially contentious topics and issues. For instance, consider the question "Why are you resigning from 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 the way you frame your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your responses with as much objectivity as feasible. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like responses based on feelings or emotions and do not have any basis in actual facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What motivated you to apply for this job?", "Why should we choose your services?", or trick questions such as "Why should us 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. Start with your statement and then follow it up with a short explanation or a brief summary of why you chose to respond in a specific manner. Then, add details or go into more detail. After you have explained thoroughly the topic, return to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could utilize this method. STAR Method, which is often used when responding on selection criteria. When using STAR it is necessary to describe an context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken, and lastly, the result.
The body language
The ability to act naturally in difficult situation can be a challenge but it is possible to try to practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you look uneasy, aggressive or reserved in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the message you’re trying to convey? Do you show sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Consider your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, make sure you read the job description over again. Assuming you read the job description and used the roles and duties listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other selection documents It is crucial to look at the job description to honestly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Being realistic about your strengths can allow the interviewer to see your strengths as a potential customer. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the company. The best person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting from the job descriptions, or if you have any concerns that weren’t answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which can be found in the job packet or in their general hiring page About section) You can raise them after the interview, after your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer
"How do I become the best person for the job, should I be given the chance to work with your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway at the moment"
"What are the potential opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Other benefits and packages for salary are usually advertised alongside the job (or on a list, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. The most important thing to do is give a range of where you would like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact or set number. Make sure to keep your range tight instead of giving a wide margin. For instance, if think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a sensible range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 or anything in the range of $10,000. Be aware of any other perks and benefits in addition to these when you evaluate your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your pocket is crucial for ensuring you are in capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and credentials and for interview preparation, contact Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants are able to guide you through the interview preparation stages. Contact us today for the free quotation or call us direct to speak to one of our consultants at 0800 024 129.
