A Guide to Interview Preparation
One of the most intimidating aspects of job hunting is the daunting interview process. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting recognition and acceptance from other people particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be natural for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their work or prior successes. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked questions that are personal to them interviews have turned out to be among the more intimidating parts of the hiring process.
It doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are the best opportunity for applicants to prove their capabilities have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You’ve completed the initial step, with your resume making an appearance on ATS scanners, and your name getting a callback. This opportunity to present and elaborate further on your resume, experience, and key skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a foot in the door when you convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate that increases your chances of passing through the next stage of the final selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews in case you’re experiencing fears about speaking about your accomplishments. Training is the key to success to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can follow to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your potential employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions partially because they wish to get information from you and information, but also in order to help you get out of potential contentious issues and concerns. Take for example the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?"
The answer could be due to managerial issues, or worries about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer but the way in which you phrase the answer will indicate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your reasoning using as much objectivity can be. This means eliminating all emotional responses, like answers based on feelings or sentiments and are not supported by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should we hire you?", or trick questions like "Why do we not hire 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. Start with your statement and then provide a concise note of the reason or reasons why you chose to respond in a specific manner. Next, provide specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly then return to the previous section.
In the same way, if you’re asked to write about your involvement on a project or task then you can use this method. STAR Method, which is often used when responding to selection criteria. When you use STAR you will need to write the scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken, and lastly, the results.
It’s all in body language
Behaving naturally in a stressful situation could be a daunting task However, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. You can sit in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions and note your mannerisms. Are you moving or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Are you looking rigid, aloof, defensive, or closed off in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the message you’re trying to make? Do you display openness, sincerity and genuine concern?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Before you go to the interview, make sure you review the job description over again. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other document of selection It is essential to consider the job description in order to accurately describe yourself to the interviewer. Be candid and open regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being truthful about your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your selling points as a prospect. However, showing your determination to improve your weak points will be equally significant.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to inquire is the interviewer. If you’ve noticed something you like within the description of your job, or if you have any questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are usually found in the job application 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 are:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this task, if offered the chance to work with the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on at the moment"
"What are the potential opportunities for further development and training?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the position (or within a set of options when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers could ask you how much you expect to earn. An important point to remember is to offer a range within which you’d like your salary to fall instead of offering an exact or set number. Make sure to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. For instance, if think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a reasonable range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of other benefits and perks also and take these into consideration when you think about your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your bag is vital to ensure you have the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interviews, please contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation stages. Contact us today to receive an no-cost quote or phone us directly to speak with one our experts on 1300 257 381.
