Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
One of the most daunting aspect of job hunts is the interview stage. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting approval and validation from others, especially from your prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be a natural thing for some however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their careers or their previous accomplishments. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions interviews have turned out to be an extremely intimidating aspects in the process of hiring.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are the best way for the applicant to show that their competencies are, their achievements, and potential. You’ve already passed the first step and your resume has made it through ATS scanners, and your name being selected for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and further elaborate on your resume, experience as well as key abilities and knowledge is the aforementioned foot in the door: if you convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances of getting through the next step of the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews even if you’re having concerns about presenting your own achievements. Practice is key and luckily, interview questions can be practiced prior to the time. The key to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your prospective employers:
Be comfortable with difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partly because they want to get information from you and information, but also because they want to help you get out of potentially contentious questions and worries. Consider, for instance, the question "Why have you decided to quit your current role?"
The answer to this question may be because of managerial issues, or worries with work-life balance, etc. No matter the answer but the way that you express your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your answer in the most objective way is possible. This means removing emotional responses like responses based on feelings or sentiments and do not have any basis in evidence.
Other questions to prepare for are "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should we hire your services?", or trick questions like "Why should be able to not employ you?" The key is to remain calm and organise your thoughts carefully.
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 explanation or a brief summary of the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Next, provide specific examples or provide more details. After you have explained thoroughly the topic, return to the previous section.
In the same way, if you’re asked to write about your involvement in a task or project, you may use this method. STAR Method, which is often used when responding the selection requirements. When you use STAR the first thing you need to do is write the scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken, and lastly, the final result.
All it is in the body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be a daunting task, but you can always practice 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? Are you looking intimidating, stiff, defensive or shut off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the point you are trying to convey? Do you communicate sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Consider your strengths and your weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, be sure to review the job description once more. Assuming that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and duties listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to think about the job description and how you will describe yourself to the interviewer. Be candid and open regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being realistic about your strengths will enable interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a potential client. But, indicating your intention to address your weak points will be equally notable.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the company. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve noticed something you like in the job description or you have questions not answered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which can be found in the job packet or their general hiring page About section) You can raise them after the interview when the interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the job, if I am offered the chance to join you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects on in the present"
"What are the potential opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know your salary expectations
Other benefits and packages for salary are typically advertised along with the position (or within a set of options, if applying through SEEK). But, interviewers might want to know what salary you’re expecting to earn. One important tip is to provide a range in which you’d like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact or set number. Try to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a a wide margin. For example, if you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits as well and consider these when you are evaluating your salary expectations.
Inputting these steps into your purse is important for ensuring you are in readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and bold.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants will be able to help you through your preparatory phases. Contact us today to receive the free quotation or to call us directly for a chat with one of our consultants at 0800 215 100.
