Optimizing Your Interview Preparation
Perhaps the most daunting aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people particularly from prospective employers. While speaking about themselves may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked questions about their work or prior accomplishments. Perhaps due to modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions Interviews have become one of the most stressful parts during the selection process.
It doesn’t 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’ve already been through the first step, with your resume making the cut through ATS scanners and you getting a callback. This chance to present and further elaborate on your profile, work history and the most important skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a way to get noticed If you can convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate this increases your chances of passing the next stage of the selection process.
There is no need to be worried about preparing for interviews if you have apprehensions about talking about your personal achievements. The practice is essential and, fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed before the date. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some helpful tips you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your potential employers.
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions partly because they want to get information from you however, also because they want to help how you can get rid of potential contentious issues and issues. Take for example the question "Why have you decided to quit 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 that you formulate your answer will demonstrate your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your answer with as much objectivity as possible. This means that you should eliminate all emotional responses, like responses that are based solely on feelings or emotions that are not supported by facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What did you do to get this position?", "Why should we choose the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why should us not choose you?" The key is to not lose composure and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short note of the reason or reasons the reasons you responded in a certain way. Then, add instances or elaborate. After you have explained thoroughly you can go back to your previous point.
In the same way, if you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a task or project and you are required to describe your involvement, you could employ an approach called the STAR Method, which is typically used to respond to selection criteria. When using STAR, you must state a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken as well as the final result.
It’s all in body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be difficult however, you can learn to communicate professionally. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask questions of you and note your mannerisms. Are you fidgeting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you seem intimidating, stiff, defensive or reserved in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to convey? Do you communicate authenticity, openness and genuine concern?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Before the interview, ensure that you go over the job description over again. If you have read the job description and applied the roles and responsibilities outlined therein to modify and customise your resume as well as other selection documents, it is important to look at the job description in order to accurately prepare yourself for interviewers. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being realistic regarding your strengths will allow interviewers to recognize your selling points as a potential customer. However, showing your determination to address your weak points will be equally significant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting in the job description, or if you have questions that have not been answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which are usually found in the job packet or in the general page for hiring About section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview, when your interviewer asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How do I become the most suitable person for the job, should I be given the opportunity to join the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline at the moment"
"What are the potential opportunities for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are often advertised with the position (or within a set of options, for those applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could want to know what salary you expect to earn. One important tip is to offer a range within which you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact, fixed amount. Be sure to keep the range as narrow as possible instead of offering a any wide range. 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 range, or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Consider other benefits and perks too and think about these when you consider your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your pocket is crucial for ensuring you are in confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured, and be bold.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, you may contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation phases. Contact us today to receive the free quote or phone us directly to speak to one of our consultants on 1300 615 870.
