Prepping Effectively for Interviews
A major and difficult aspects of job hunting is the interview stage. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting approval and validation from others and especially your potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be a natural thing for some, others are apprehensive about being asked about their work or prior achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the fear of being asked questions that are personal to them Interviews have become among the more intimidating parts that are required to hire.
It doesn’t have to be the scenario.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to show that their competencies, achievements, and potentials. You have already been through the first step and your resume has made its way through ATS scanners and being considered for an interview. This chance to present and further elaborate on your profile, work history, and key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned entrance into the interview If you can convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate this increases your chances of getting through the next step of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews if you have fears about speaking about your own achievements. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some helpful tips you can apply to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing potential employers.
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers pose challenging questions in part, to gather information however, also since they want to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious questions and worries. Consider, for instance, the question "Why have you decided to quit your current position?"
The answer may be because of management issues, or concerns about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer but the way that you formulate your answer will demonstrate your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your responses using as much objectivity possible. This means eliminating all emotional responses, like responses that are based solely on feelings or sentiments that are not supported by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for are "What motivated you to apply for this role?", "Why should be hiring us?", or trick questions such as "Why should you not choose you?" 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. Introduce your idea and then provide a concise note of the reason or reasons the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained the topic, return to your previous point.
Similarly, if you are requested to provide a description of your participation in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could utilize this method. STAR Method, which is typically used to respond to selection criteria. In using STAR the first thing you need to do is write an Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken then the Result.
All it is in the body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be a challenge however, you can try to practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions of you and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you appear intimidating, stiff, defensive or reserved in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match your message you’re trying to convey? Do you show genuineness, honesty and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, ensure that you read the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities outlined within to customize and modify your resume and other selection documents It is essential to consider the job description to clearly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest on your strength and weakness. Being open about your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your unique selling points as a prospect. But, indicating your intention to work on your weaknesses will also be important.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the company. The best person to inquire to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting within the description of your job or you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or guide questions (which are typically found within the job application or the general page for hiring about section), raise these during the interview, when your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the jobif given the chance to work alongside members of your staff?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway right now"
"What are the opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are typically advertised along with the position (or as part of a range if applying through SEEK). But, interviewers might ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. A good tip is to provide a range in which you’d like your pay to be based instead of giving an exact or fixed number. Try to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a a wide margin. For instance, if anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you evaluate your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your pocket is crucial to equip yourself with the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured and be courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today to receive a no-cost quote or phone us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 202 475.
