Steps to Interview Readiness
One of the most intimidating aspect of job hunts is the interview stage. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting to seek the approval and support of others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be natural for some however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their career or past successes. Perhaps out of modesty and the anxiety that comes from being asked questions that are personal to them, the interview has become one of the most stressful parts during the selection process.
This doesn’t need to be the scenario.
Interviews are an important method for applicants to prove their capabilities, achievements, and potentials. It’s been a while since you’ve made it through the first step with your resume passing its way through ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history and the most important skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer that you’re qualified this increases your chances of getting through to the next step in the final selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews if you have doubts about speaking about your achievements. Training is the key to success, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can follow to boost your chances at nailing that interview and impressing future employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions in part, to get information from you however, also because they want to help you navigate your way out of potentially contentious issues and issues. For instance, consider the question "Why have you decided to quit your current job?"
The reason for this may be because of management issues, or concerns about work-life balance. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Respond honestly and explain your answer with the greatest objectivity feasible. This means that you should eliminate emotional responses like responses based on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by factual evidence.
Other important questions to ask are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should be hiring the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why should you not hire you?" The key is not to lose your cool and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow with a brief note of the reason or reasons the reason you reacted in a particular manner. Add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained then return to your original point.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation on a project or task then you can employ this method. STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond the selection requirements. In using STAR it is necessary to describe the situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken then the Result.
The body language
Being natural in a stressful situation could be a daunting task however, you can make sure you are practicing professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions of you and observe your behavior. Are you fidgeting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you seem intimidating, stiff, defensive or reserved in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match your message you’re trying to make? Do you communicate sincerity, authenticity and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, make sure you read the job description once more. Assuming that you’ve read the description and then used the roles and responsibilities outlined therein to modify and customise your resume and other selection documents It is imperative to review the job description to clearly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be open and honest on your strength and weakness. Being honest about your strengths can allow the interviewer to see your unique selling points as a prospective client. But, indicating your intention to improve your weaknesses is just as significant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the company. The best person to inquire to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting within the description of your job or if you’ve got any questions not answered through their FAQ or 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 asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the jobif given the chance to be part of the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on currently"
"What are the opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the position (or in a variety, in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may be interested in knowing what you anticipate earning. The most important thing to do is give a range of where you’d like your earnings to be, rather than providing an exact or set number. Keep your limit to a narrow range instead of providing any wide range. For instance, if anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a reasonable range would be anywhere in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you evaluate your salary expectations.
Inputting these steps into your back pocket is essential for ensuring you are in readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured, and be bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for interviews, please reach out to Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants can assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us today for an complimentary quote or phone us directly to speak with one of our experts on 02 7910 6323.
