Steps to Interview Readiness
The most daunting aspects of job hunting is the interview stage. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting acceptance and approval from others in particular from potential employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their career or past achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the fear of being asked personal questions interviews have turned out to be among the more intimidating aspects in the process of hiring.
This does not have to be the situation.
Interviews are the best means for the candidate to prove their capabilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You have already passed the first step and your resume has made it through ATS scanners and you being selected for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate on your resume, experience as well as the key skills and expertise is the proverbial entrance into the interview when you convince the interviewer you have what it takes this increases your chances of passing the next step of the final selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews if you have fears about speaking about your achievements. Practice is key, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced prior to the time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can apply to boost your chances of getting through that interview and impressing prospective employers:
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions mostly because they are trying to gather information however, also because they want to see how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and concerns. For instance, consider the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The answer may be because of managerial issues, or worries about the balance between work and life, etc. Whatever the reason however, the manner the way you frame your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your reasoning in the most objective way possible. This means removing emotional responses like answers based on sentiments or feelings, that are not supported by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for are "What made you apply for this job?", "Why should be hiring us?", or trick questions like "Why should we 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. Lead with your point and follow with a brief note of the reason or reasons why you chose to respond in a specific way. Add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained then return to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement on a project or task then you can employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is often used when responding on selection criteria. When using STAR, you must state a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the Result.
It’s all in body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful environment can be a challenge, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. You can sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your behavior. Are you fidgeting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you appear uneasy, aggressive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to make? Do you show sincerity, authenticity and genuine interest?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, you should review the job description again. In the event that you’ve read the description and utilized the roles and duties listed in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection It is crucial to review the job description to honestly package yourself for the interviewer. Be upfront and honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Being honest about your strengths will enable the interviewer to see your selling points as a potential customer. However, announcing your intention to address your weaknesses will be just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine interest about the job and the business. The best person to approach for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting in the job description or if you have questions that were left unanswered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job description or the general page for hiring About section), raise these after the interview when the interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer:
"How can I be the most suitable person for the jobif given the opportunity to work with you and your colleagues?"
"Does the company have any major projects on right now"
"What are the possibilities to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the position (or as part of a range if applying through SEEK). However, interviewers may still want to know what salary you anticipate earning. One important tip is to provide a range in which you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact, fixed amount. Make sure to keep your range tight instead of giving 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 area or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Consider additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
These steps to prepare in your bag is vital for ensuring you are in readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, confident, and confident and bold.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and credentials and for the preparation for your interview, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation stages. Contact us today to receive your free quotation or call us direct to speak to one of our experts on 0800 024 129.
