Ready Yourself for Interviews
The most intimidating aspects of job hunting is the dreaded interview round. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. Although talking about oneself may seem natural to certain people However, some are uncomfortable being asked questions regarding their work or prior successes. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions, the interview has become among the more stressful parts of the hiring process.
This does not have to be the situation.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to demonstrate their skills as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve completed the initial step and your resume has made it through ATS scanners, and your name being considered for an interview. The chance to show and elaborate further on your resume, experience as well as the key skills and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door when you convince the interviewer that you have what it takes that increases your chances of getting through to the next step in the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with apprehensions about talking about your achievements. Practice is key, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can apply to boost your chances at nailing that interview and impressing your future employers.
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions mostly because they are trying to get information from you as well as in order to help you navigate your way out of potentially contentious issues and issues. For instance, consider the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The reason for this could be due to management concerns, or issues regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your reasoning with as much objectivity as feasible. This means that you should eliminate all emotional responses, like answers based on emotions or feelings and are not substantiated by actual facts.
Other questions to consider are "What made you apply for this job?", "Why should we hire your services?", or trick questions like "Why do us not take you on?" The key is to not lose composure and plan your thoughts well.
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 note of the reason or reasons why you responded a certain manner. After that, you can add details or go into more detail. Once you’ve thoroughly explained then return to the point you made earlier.
In the same way, if you’re required to explain your participation in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could use the STAR Method, which is typically used to respond to selection criteria. When you use STAR it is necessary to describe an scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the final result.
All it is in the body language
Being natural in a stressful environment can be a daunting task, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting about with anxiety? Do you appear rigid, aloof, 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 sincerity, authenticity and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Before you go to the interview, be sure to read the description of the position. If you have read the job description and utilized the roles and responsibilities described in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to consider the job description to clearly present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being open about your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your selling points as a prospect. However, announcing your intention to work on your weaknesses will be just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the company. The most appropriate person to ask is the interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like from the job descriptions or if you have concerns that weren’t answered through their FAQ or their guide questions (which can be found in the job application or their general hiring page about section) You can raise them at the end of the interview, after your interviewer invites you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer are:
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the jobif given the chance to work with you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects on in the present"
"What are the opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the job (or in a variety, in the case of SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you’re expecting to earn. A good tip is to include a range that you’d like your salary to fall instead of offering an exact or fixed number. Try to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a reasonable choice would be anything from the $73,000-$80,000 range or anything in the range of $10,000. Be mindful of other benefits and perks in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your bag is vital to ensure you have the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and be courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials , and also for interviews, please reach out to Perth Resume. Our knowledgeable and professional consultants are able to help you through your preparatory stages. Contact us today for a complimentary quote or call us direct for a chat with one of our consultants at 0800 215 100.
