Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
A major and frightening aspect of job hunts is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural consequence of seeking recognition and acceptance from other people, especially from your prospective employers. Although talking about oneself may come naturally to some people but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their work or prior achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the fear of being asked personal questions Interviews have become among the more nerve-wracking parts during the selection process.
This does not have to be the scenario.
Interviews are a great means for the candidate to prove their capabilities have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You’ve already passed the first step and your resume has made its way through ATS scanners and your name being shortlisted for an interview. This opportunity to present and further elaborate on your resume, experience as well as key abilities and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door: if you convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances of passing through to the next step in the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having apprehensions about talking about your accomplishments. It is important to practice and luckily, interview questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can implement to improve your chances of nailing the interview and impressing future employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, in part, to gain information and information, but also because they want to see you get out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Take for example the question "Why are you resigning from your current position?"
The reason for this may be because of management issues, or concerns about work-life balance. Whatever the reason but the way the way you frame your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your responses using as much objectivity is possible. This means eliminating all emotional responses, like responses that are based solely on emotions or feelings that are not supported by facts.
Other questions to consider include "What did you do to get this role?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions like "Why should you not hire you?" The key is not to lose your cool and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short argument or explanation of the reason you reacted in a particular way. Add details or go into more detail. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly the topic, return to your previous point.
Also, if asked to write about your involvement in a task or project and you are required to describe your involvement, you could employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to selection criteria. When using STAR it is necessary to describe a context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the results.
The body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be a tall order However, you can learn to communicate professionally. You can sit in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask you questions and note your mannerisms. Are you moving or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Do you look uneasy, aggressive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with what you want to make? Do you show authenticity, openness and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Prior to the interview, ensure that you read the job description over again. If you have read the job description and used the roles and duties listed therein to modify and customise your resume and other document of selection It is imperative to review the job description to clearly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be upfront and honest regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being honest about your strengths can allow the interviewer to note your selling points as a prospective client. However, signalling your intent to work on your weaknesses will also be significant.
Prepare questions
Another key aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest in the role and in the company. The best person to ask for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you noticed something interesting from the job descriptions or if you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or guide questions (which can be found in the job description or the general page for hiring About section), raise these after the interview when the interviewer asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer include:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the job, should I be offered the chance to work alongside your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway at the moment"
"What are the potential opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the position (or in a variety if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could inquire about the amount you are expecting. A good tip is to include a range that you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact or fixed number. Keep your limit to a narrow range instead of providing a wide margin. For instance, if are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a good range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 range, or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Also, be aware of additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you think about your salary expectations.
The preparation steps you have in your bag is vital to equip yourself with the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, confident, and confident and bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for interview preparation, you may reach out to Perth Resume. Our knowledgeable and professional consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation stages. Contact us now for a complimentary quote or phone us directly to speak to one of our consultants on 0800 215 100.
