Ready Yourself for Interviews
One of the most daunting aspect of job hunts is the interview stage. It is a normal result of wanting the approval and support of others, especially from your prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might seem natural to certain people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the discomfort arising from being asked to answer personal questions Interviews have become among the more stressful parts during the selection process.
This doesn’t need to be the scenario.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to demonstrate their skills have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. It’s been a while since you’ve been through the first step and your resume has made an appearance on ATS scanners and being considered for an interview. This chance to present and further elaborate on your resume, experience and the most important skills and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer that you have what it takes this increases your chances of passing 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 apprehensions about talking about your achievements. Practice is key and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing future employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partially because they wish to gain information, but also, since they want to help you get out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why have you decided to quit your current role?"
The answer to this question could be due to management issues, or concerns about the balance between work and life, etc. Whatever the reason however, the manner that you formulate your response will signal your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your reasoning with the greatest objectivity is possible. This includes removing any emotional responses such as answers that are based purely on emotions or feelings that are not supported by facts.
Other important questions to ask include "What did you do to get this position?", "Why should we hire us?", or trick questions like "Why do you not take you on?" The key is to remain calm and arrange your thoughts with care.
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 note of the reason or reasons why you chose to respond in a specific way. After that, you can add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained, go back to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation on a project or task it is possible to use an approach called the STAR Method, which is typically used to respond to selection criteria. When you use STAR it is necessary to describe a context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the results.
The body language
Acting naturally in a stressful situation could be a challenge however, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to inquire about your concerns and take note of your actions. Are you shifting or fidgeting around with a nervousness? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive, or closed off in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match the message you’re trying to make? Do you convey sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Take a look at your strengths and weak points.
Prior to your interview, be sure to go over the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume as well as other selection documents It is imperative to review the job description and how you will prepare yourself for interviewers. Be candid and open on your strength and weakness. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your selling points as a potential client. However, announcing your intention to address your weaknesses will also be important.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is to show genuine interest about the job and the business. The best person to inquire to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting on the resume, or if you’ve got any questions that have not been answered through their FAQ or guide questions (which can be found in the job description or the general page for hiring About section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview when the interviewer invites 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 be part of you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway at the moment"
"What are the chances to advance and further education?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are often advertised with the position (or in a variety, if applying through SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you are expecting. A good tip is to give a range of where you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact or set number. Keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. For example, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, an appropriate range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be aware of any other perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you think about your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important to equip yourself with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, confident, and confident and be courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and credentials , and also for the preparation for your interview, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you through your preparatory steps. Contact us now for an no-cost quote or phone us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 1300 871 072.
