A Guide to Interview Preparation
One of the most daunting aspect of job hunts is the daunting interview process. Interview fear is a natural consequence of seeking acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. Although talking about oneself may come naturally to some people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the discomfort arising from being asked to answer personal questions, the interview has become one of the most intimidating aspects that are required to hire.
This does not have to be the situation.
Interviews are a crucial way for the applicant to prove their capabilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You have already been through the first step with your resume passing it through ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. The chance to show and elaborate further on one’s profile, employment history, 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 you increase your odds of passing through the next phase of the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with apprehensions about talking about your personal achievements. It is important to practice, and fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed before the date. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can use to increase your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your future employers.
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions in part, to elicit information however, also since they want to help you come out of potentially contentious questions and concerns. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current job?"
The answer to this question may be because of problems with management, or concerns 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 an objective and fair observer. Answer honestly and explain your responses using as much objectivity feasible. This means removing any emotional responses such as answers that are based purely on feelings or sentiments and are not substantiated by facts.
Other questions to prepare for are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should us choose to hire us?", or trick questions such as "Why should you not take you on?" The key is to not lose composure and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and then follow it up with a short explanation or a brief summary of why you responded a certain manner. Add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly you can go back to the previous section.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation in a task or project then you can employ the STAR Method, which is often used when responding on selection criteria. If you are using STAR, you must state a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken then the final result.
It’s all in body language
Behaving naturally in a stressful situation may be a tall order, but you can always practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your behavior. Are you shifting or fidgeting about nervously? Do you appear intimidating, stiff, defensive or reserved in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with your message you’re trying to make? Do you show authenticity, openness, and genuine interest?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses
Before you go to the interview, be sure to review the description of the position. If you have read the job description and utilized the roles and responsibilities described therein to modify and customise your resume and other selection documents, it is important to consider the job description to honestly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be open and honest on your strength and weakness. Being truthful about your strengths can allow interviewers to recognize your selling points as a potential client. However, signalling your intent to address your weaknesses will also be relevant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is to show genuine interest in the role and in the business. The most appropriate person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting within the description of your job or if you have concerns that weren’t answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which typically are found in the job application or their general hiring page About section) Bring them up at the end of the interview, after your interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some thought-provoking questions you may ask your employer include:
"How can I be the most suitable person for the jobif given the opportunity to be part of members of your staff?"
"Does the company have any major projects on currently"
"What are the chances for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are often advertised with the job (or on a list for those applying through SEEK). But, interviewers might ask you how much you anticipate earning. The most important thing to do is provide a range in which you’d like your pay to fall instead of offering an exact or set number. Make sure to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be mindful of other benefits and perks in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary expectations.
Having these preparatory steps in your bag is vital to equip yourself with the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident, and be bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants are able to help you with your interview preparation stages. Contact us now for an no-cost quote or contact us directly to speak to one of our consultants at 0800 024 129.
