Prepping Effectively for Interviews
One of the most daunting aspects of job hunting is the interview stage. The fear of an interview is a natural consequence of seeking the approval and support of others and especially your potential employers. Although talking about oneself may be natural for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their career or past successes. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked personal questions, the interview has become an extremely intimidating aspects during the selection process.
This does not have to be the case.
Interviews are an important means for the candidate to prove their capabilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. It’s been a while since you’ve been through the first step by submitting your resume to its way through ATS scanners, and your name getting a callback. This chance to present and further elaborate on your profile, work history, and key skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a entrance into the interview and 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.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews in case you’re experiencing doubts about speaking about your accomplishments. It is important to practice and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed ahead of time. The key to a flawless interview is preparation, and here are some tips that you can use to increase your chances of getting through that interview and impressing potential employers.
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions in part, to gather information as well as since they want to help you come out of potential contentious issues and issues. Consider, for instance, the question "Why are you resigning from your current position?"
The answer may be because of management concerns, or issues about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer but the way in which you phrase your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your responses with the greatest objectivity is possible. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like answers based on emotions or feelings and do not have any basis in actual facts.
Other questions to consider are "What made you apply for this position?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why do we not take you on?" The key is to remain calm and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
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 why you chose to respond in a specific way. Add details or go into more detail. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly you can go back to your previous point.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a particular project or task it is possible to employ an approach called the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to selection criteria. If you are using STAR the first thing you need to do is write an scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the results.
It’s all in the body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be difficult, but you can always practice professional communication. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask questions and observe your behavior. Are you moving or fidgeting about nervously? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive or shut off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with your message you’re trying to make? Do you display sincerity, authenticity and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, ensure that you read the description of the position. In the event that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and responsibilities described in it to alter and personalize your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to look at the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your unique selling points as a prospect. But, indicating your intention to improve your weaknesses will also be notable.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest about the job and the business. The most appropriate person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you have noticed something intriguing on the resume, or if you have any questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or guide questions (which are usually found in the job packet or in their general hiring page About section) Make sure to bring them up during the interview, when your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the job, should I be offered the chance to be part of the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline in the present"
"What are the possibilities to advance and further education?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are often advertised with the position (or within a set of options when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you expect to earn. A good tip is to provide a range in which you’d like your earnings to be, rather than providing an exact or set number. Make sure to keep your range tight instead of giving any wide range. For instance, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, an appropriate range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Also, be aware of other benefits and perks also and take these into consideration when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your bag is vital for ensuring you are in confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and be courageous.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and certificates, as well as for interviews, please get in touch with Perth Resume. Our knowledgeable and professional consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation steps. Contact us today to receive an free quotation or to call us directly to speak to one of our consultants on 1300 993 659.
