Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
A major and difficult aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. It is a normal consequence of seeking approval and validation from others and especially your potential employers. While speaking about themselves may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their work or prior successes. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort arising from being asked personal questions interviews have turned out to be one of the most intimidating aspects during the selection process.
This does not have to be the situation.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already passed the first step with your resume passing it through ATS scanners, and your name being selected for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and further elaborate on one’s profile, employment history and the most important skills and expertise is the proverbial entrance into the interview when you convince the interviewer you’re a good fit you increase your odds of passing to the next step in the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews if you have fears about speaking about your accomplishments. Practice is key, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can apply to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing potential employers.
Get comfortable around tricky questions
Interviewers ask challenging questions, partially because they wish to gain information, but also, because they want to see you navigate your way out of potentially contentious topics and concerns. Take for example the question "Why have you decided to quit your current position?"
The answer could be due to problems with management, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. No matter the answer however, the manner that you express the answer will indicate your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Be honest and articulate your response in the most objective way can be. This means that you should eliminate all emotional responses, like responses that are based solely on sentiments or feelings, that are not supported by facts.
Other questions to consider are "What inspired you to apply for this role?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions like "Why do us not hire you?" The key is to remain calm and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and follow up with a short note of the reason or reasons why you responded a certain way. Add details or go into more detail. Once you’ve thoroughly explained the topic, return to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement in a task or project then you can employ an approach called the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to selection criteria. When you use STAR you will need to write a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken then the result.
All it is in the body language
Being natural in a difficult situation can be a challenge However, you can practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you flitting or shifting about nervously? Do you appear uneasy, aggressive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match the message you’re trying to convey? Do you display sincerity, authenticity and genuine concern?
Consider your strengths and weak points.
Prior to your interview, make sure you review the job description over again. Assuming you read the job description and used the roles and responsibilities described within to customize and modify your resume as well as other selection documents It is imperative to consider the job description in order to accurately package yourself for the interviewer. Be upfront and honest concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being honest about your strengths can allow interviewers to recognize your unique selling points as a potential customer. However, signalling your intent to improve your weaknesses will be just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is to show genuine interest in the job and within the business. The most appropriate person to ask for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting within the description of your job or if you’ve got any questions that have not been answered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are usually found in the job packet or the general page for hiring about section) You can raise them during the interview, when your interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be the best person for the jobif offered the chance to join your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline in the present"
"What are the potential opportunities to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or as part of a range if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could be interested in knowing what you are expecting. One important tip is to include a range that you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact or fixed number. Try to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a a wide margin. For instance, if you anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a sensible range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Also, be aware of other perks and benefits in addition to these when you think about your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your back pocket is essential to ensure you have the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, feel confident and be courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as the preparation for your interview, reach out to Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation phases. Contact us now for the free quote or call us direct to speak to one of our consultants at 1300 202 475.
