Ready Yourself for Interviews
A major and daunting aspect of job hunts is the daunting interview process. It is a normal consequence of seeking acceptance and approval from others in particular from potential employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may seem natural to certain people however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their careers or their previous achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts in the process of hiring.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a great opportunity for applicants to show that their competencies, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already made it through the first step with your resume passing its way through ATS scanners, and your name getting a callback. This chance to present and elaborate on one’s profile, employment history as well as the key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned way to get noticed and if you can convince the interviewer you have what it takes you increase your odds of passing through the next stage of the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having doubts about speaking about your own achievements. The practice is essential and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed prior to the time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can follow to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing potential employers.
Be comfortable with difficult questions
Interviewers ask challenging questions, in part, to gain information, but also, because they want to see you come out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Take for example the question "Why are you resigning from your current job?"
The reason for this may be because of management concerns, or issues about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will demonstrate your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your reasoning in the most objective way possible. This means removing any emotional responses , such as answers that are based purely on sentiments or feelings, and are not supported by factual evidence.
Other questions to consider are "What did you do to get this job?", "Why should be hiring the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why should you not employ you?" The key is to stay calm and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow with a brief argument or explanation of the reason you reacted in a particular way. After that, you can add specific examples or provide more details. After you have explained thoroughly you can go back to the point you made earlier.
If you’re asked to write about your involvement in a task or project, you may use an approach called the STAR Method, which is often used when responding on selection criteria. If you are using STAR you will need to write a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken, and lastly, the final result.
It’s all in the body language
Acting naturally in a stressful situation could be a daunting task but it is possible to learn to communicate professionally. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to inquire about your concerns and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting about with anxiety? Do you appear rigid, aloof, defensive or shut off in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to convey? Do you communicate sincerity, authenticity and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Prior to your interview, make sure you review the job description again. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection It is imperative to consider the job description in order to accurately prepare yourself for interviewers. Be candid and open on your strength and weakness. Being realistic about your strengths will enable the interviewer to note your strengths as a prospective client. But, indicating your intention to work on your weaknesses is just as important.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest in the job and within the business. The best person to inquire is the interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like on the resume, or if you’ve got any questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which can be found in the job description or their general hiring page about section), raise these at the end of the interview, when your interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be the most qualified person for this job, should I be given the chance to work alongside your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on currently"
"What are the potential opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Benefits and salary packages are usually advertised alongside the job (or in a variety, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might want to know what salary you are expecting. A good tip is to give a range of where you would like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the range tight instead of giving an expansive margin. If, for instance, you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Consider other perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you evaluate your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your purse is important for ensuring you are in ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, be self-assured and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today for a complimentary quote or to call us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 1300 297 507.
