Optimizing Your Interview Preparation
A major and intimidating aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. It is a normal consequence of seeking approval and validation from others in particular from potential employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their work or prior successes. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort arising from being asked questions about their personal life Interviews have become an extremely intimidating aspects during the selection process.
This doesn’t need to be the case.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to show that their competencies have been demonstrated, as well as their 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 getting a callback. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history as well as the key skills and expertise is the proverbial step to the front: if you convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate you increase your odds of getting through the next step of the final selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing fears about speaking about your personal achievements. Practice is key and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced before the date. The key to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can apply to boost your chances at nailing that interview and impressing future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions mostly because they are trying to get information from you, but also, since they want to help you come out of potentially contentious questions and worries. For instance, consider the question "Why have you decided to quit your current position?"
The reason for this could be due to managerial issues, or worries about work-life balance. Whatever the reason, however, the manner that you formulate your answer will show your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your answer with the greatest objectivity possible. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses , such as responses that are based solely on feelings or emotions that are not supported by evidence.
Other questions to consider include "What motivated you to apply for this role?", "Why should we hire us?", or trick questions like "Why should we not take you on?" The key is to stay calm 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 provide a concise argument or explanation of why you chose to respond in a specific way. Add details or go into more detail. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly then return to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are asked to describe your involvement in a project or task then you can employ the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to selection criteria. In using STAR, you must state a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the results.
All it is in the body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful situation could be a daunting task However, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to ask you questions and note your mannerisms. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you seem uneasy, aggressive or aloof in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with your message you’re trying to make? Do you show openness, sincerity, and genuine interest?
Take a look at your strengths and weak points.
Before you go to the interview, you should go over the job description over again. If you have read the job description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined in it to alter and personalize your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to review the job description to honestly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being realistic about your strengths will enable the interviewer to see your strengths as a potential client. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses will be just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest in the role and in the company. The most appropriate person to ask questions is your interviewer. If you noticed something interesting within the description of your job or if you have questions that were left unanswered through their FAQ or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job application or the general page for hiring About section) You can raise them at the end of the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer include:
"How can I be the most qualified person for this task, if given the opportunity to be part of your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline in the present"
"What are the potential opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
The salary package and other benefits are generally advertised with the position (or in a variety, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might be interested in knowing what you are expecting. An important point to remember is to give a range of where you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact, fixed amount. Try to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a good range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any additional perks and benefits too and think about these when you consider your salary goals.
These steps to prepare in your bag is vital to equip yourself with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interviews, please get in touch with Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants can assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today for your free quotation or to call us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 0800 215 100.
