Strategies for Interview Success
Perhaps the most frightening aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek the approval and support of others and especially your potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be a natural thing for some however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their career or past achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort that comes with being asked questions about their personal life Interviews have become among the more nerve-wracking parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a crucial method for applicants to showcase their abilities have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You’ve already been through the first step by submitting your resume to an appearance on ATS scanners, and your name being considered for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history, and key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned entrance into the interview If you can convince the interviewer that you’re a good fit that increases your chances of passing the next step of the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having apprehensions about talking about your achievements. It is important to practice to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be rehearsed ahead of time. The key to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can use to increase your chances of nailing the interview and impressing future employers:
Get comfortable around tricky questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions in part, to get information from you and information, but also because they want to help you come out of potentially contentious issues and issues. Consider, for instance, the question "Why do you want to leave your current role?"
The answer may be because of management issues, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. No matter the answer however, the manner that you express your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your responses with the greatest objectivity possible. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses , such as responses based on emotions or feelings and do not have any basis in facts.
Other questions to be prepared for include "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should be hiring you?", or trick questions like "Why do be able to not choose you?" The key is to stay calm and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short note of the reason or reasons why you responded a certain way. Add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly the topic, return to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement on a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could employ this method. STAR Method, which is typically used to respond to selection criteria. In using STAR it is necessary to describe the situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken, and lastly, the final result.
It’s all in body language
Being natural in a stressful situation may be a daunting task however, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you appear stiff, standoffish, defensive or shut off in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the point you are trying to convey? Do you convey genuineness, honesty and genuine interest?
Consider your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, be sure to go over the job description over again. If you have read the job description and utilized the roles and responsibilities described within to customize and modify your resume and other selection documents, it is important to think about the job description to clearly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being realistic regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to note your unique selling points as a prospective client. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses is just as significant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the business. The best person to inquire to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting from the job descriptions, or if you have questions that have not been answered through their FAQ or guide questions (which are usually found in the job description or the general page for hiring about section), raise these during the interview, when your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer:
"How can I be the most qualified person for this jobif given the chance to work alongside the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on at the moment"
"What are the opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Benefits and salary packages are generally advertised with the job (or as part of a range, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still be interested in knowing what you’re expecting to earn. One important tip is to offer a range within which you’d like your pay to be, rather than providing an exact, fixed amount. Be sure to keep the limit to a narrow range instead of providing an expansive margin. If, for instance, you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anything in the range of $10,000. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you consider your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your back pocket is essential to equip yourself with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident and courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials , and also for the preparation for your interview, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our knowledgeable and professional consultants can help you with your interview preparation phases. Contact us today for the free quote or contact us directly to speak with one our experts on 1300 257 381.
