Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
A major and daunting aspect of job hunts is the fear of an interview. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be natural for some However, some are uncomfortable being asked questions regarding their career or past achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the discomfort arising from being asked to answer personal questions, the interview has become one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the scenario.
Interviews are a great means for the candidate to demonstrate their skills are, their achievements, and potential. You’ve completed the initial step, with your resume making an appearance on ATS scanners, and your name getting a callback. This chance to present and elaborate on your profile, work history as well as key abilities and knowledge is the aforementioned step to the front: if you convince the interviewer you’re a good fit you increase your odds to be selected for the next stage of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with concerns about presenting your achievements. It is important to practice to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some helpful tips you can apply to boost your chances at nailing that interview and impressing your future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions partially because they wish to gain information however, also in order to help you navigate your way out of potentially contentious issues and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?"
The reason for this could be due to problems with management, or concerns about work-life balance. Whatever the reason however, the manner that you express your answer will demonstrate your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Answer honestly and explain your answer with as much objectivity as feasible. This means removing emotional responses like answers that are based purely on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by actual facts.
Other questions to consider are "What inspired you to apply for this position?", "Why should we choose your services?", or trick questions such as "Why should be able to not choose you?" The key is to remain calm and plan your thoughts well.
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 the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained then return to your original point.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a task or project, you may use the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. When you use STAR you will need to write the context,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the Result.
All it is in the body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be a daunting task However, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to ask you questions and take note of your actions. Are you moving or fidgeting about nervously? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive or aloof in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the message you’re trying to make? Do you convey sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses
Prior to your interview, make sure you review the job description over again. Assuming you read the job description and used the roles and duties listed therein to modify and customise your resume and other documents for selection It is essential to review the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest on your strength and weakness. Being honest about your strengths will enable interviewers to recognize your selling points as a prospect. However, announcing your intention to improve your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is to show genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting in the job description or you have concerns that weren’t answered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which are typically found within the job description or the general page for hiring about section) Make sure to bring them up after the interview, after your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer are:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the job, if I am given the chance to work with your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline at the moment"
"What are the opportunities to advance and further education?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are usually advertised alongside the job (or within a set of options, for those applying through SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. The most important thing to do is include a range that you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. If, for instance, you expect to make $75,000 a year, a good choice would be anything from 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 are evaluating your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your purse is important to be prepared with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and credentials and for the preparation for your interview, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants are able to assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today to receive your free quote or to call us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 202 475.
