Optimizing Your Interview Preparation
One of the most difficult aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others and especially your potential employers. While speaking about themselves may seem natural to certain people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their careers or their previous accomplishments. Perhaps due to modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked personal questions Interviews have become one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts in the process of hiring.
This doesn’t need to be the case.
Interviews are an important method for applicants to show that their competencies, achievements, and potentials. You have already been through the first step by submitting your resume to an appearance on ATS scanners and getting a callback. This opportunity to present and further elaborate on your profile, work history, and key skills and expertise is the proverbial way to get noticed: if you convince the interviewer you have what it takes you increase your odds of passing through the next step of the final selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with doubts about speaking about your accomplishments. The practice is essential and luckily, interview questions can be rehearsed ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can apply to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing prospective employers:
Be comfortable with difficult questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions partially because they wish to elicit information however, also because they want to see you come out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer to this question may be because of management issues, or concerns about the balance between work and life, etc. Whatever the reason, however, the manner that you formulate your answer will show your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your response with as much objectivity as can be. This means eliminating any emotional responses , such as responses based on feelings or sentiments and do not have any basis in actual facts.
Other questions to be prepared for include "What inspired you to apply for this job?", "Why should be hiring us?", or trick questions such as "Why should we not hire 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. Lead with your point and then provide a concise reason or summary as to why you chose to respond in a specific way. After that, you can add examples or further elaborate. After you have explained thoroughly you can go back to the point you made earlier.
Also, if requested to provide a description of your participation on a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could utilize the STAR Method, which is typically used to respond the selection requirements. In using STAR you will need to write a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the result.
All it is in the body language
Being natural in a difficult situation can be a daunting task however, you can practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting about with anxiety? Are you looking stiff, standoffish, defensive, or closed off in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with your message you’re trying to make? Do you communicate openness, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, be sure to review the job description again. If you have read the job description and then used the roles and responsibilities described in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to review the job description in order to accurately prepare yourself for interviewers. Be candid and open on your strength and weakness. Being honest about your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your unique selling points as a potential customer. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses will be just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to approach is the interviewer. If you noticed something interesting on the resume or you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are typically found within the job application or their general hiring page about section) You can raise them during the interview, when your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer include:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this job, should I be offered the chance to be part of the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline currently"
"What are the chances for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
The salary package and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or in a variety when applying via SEEK). But, interviewers might be interested in knowing what you expect to earn. One important tip is to provide a range in which you’d like your pay to be based instead of giving an exact or fixed number. Make sure to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a an expansive margin. If, for instance, you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a sensible range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Consider other benefits and perks as well and consider these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important to equip yourself with the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, confident, and confident and be courageous.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, you may reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants can guide you through the interview preparation stages. Contact us today to receive an complimentary quote or call us direct to speak to one of our experts on 1300 202 475.
