Strategies for Interview Success
The most daunting aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. The fear of an interview is a natural consequence of seeking acceptance and approval from others and especially your potential employers. While speaking about themselves may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their professional or previous successes. Perhaps out of modesty and the discomfort arising from being asked questions that are personal to them interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most intimidating aspects during the selection process.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a crucial opportunity for applicants to prove their capabilities are, their achievements, and potential. You have already completed the initial step with your resume passing the cut through ATS scanners and you being shortlisted for an interview. This chance to present and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history as well as key abilities and abilities is the proverbial foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer you’re a good fit, it boosts your chances to be selected for the next step of the selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing doubts about speaking about your achievements. Practice is key and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can apply to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your potential employers.
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers ask challenging questions, in part, to elicit information as well as because they want to see you get out of potentially contentious topics and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why are you resigning from your current role?"
The reason for this may be because of management concerns, or issues about the balance between work and life, etc. Whatever the reason however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will demonstrate your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Answer honestly and explain your responses with as much objectivity as feasible. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like responses that are based solely on feelings or sentiments and are not supported by facts.
Other questions to be prepared for include "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should be hiring you?", or trick questions such as "Why should us not choose you?" The key is to stay calm and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Lead with your point and then follow it up with a short explanation or a brief summary of the reasons you responded in a certain manner. Next, provide examples or further elaborate. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly, go back to the previous section.
Also, if requested to provide a description of your participation in a task or project, you may employ an approach called the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. When you use STAR it is necessary to describe an Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken followed by the Result.
It’s all in body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful environment 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 trusted person to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you appear stiff, standoffish, defensive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to make? Do you show genuineness, honesty, and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, make sure you go over the job description again. In the event that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities outlined therein to modify and customise your resume and other document of selection It is imperative to think about the job description to clearly present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being open regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your strengths as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to address your weaknesses will also be relevant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest in the role and in the company. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting on the resume or if you have any questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which typically are found in the job packet or in their general hiring page About section) Bring them up during the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer include:
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the job, if I am given the opportunity to work alongside the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on currently"
"What are the chances for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Benefits and salary packages are often advertised with the job (or in a variety, if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could inquire about the amount you’re expecting to earn. A good tip is to offer a range within which you’d like your salary to be, rather than providing an exact number or a set amount. Keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a any wide range. For instance, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Consider other perks and benefits in addition to these when you consider your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important to equip yourself with the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and courageous.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for interview preparation, you may get in touch with Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can help you with your interview preparation steps. Contact us today for the free quotation or phone us directly to speak with one our experts on 0800 215 100.
