Prepping Effectively for Interviews
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. It is a normal result of wanting approval and validation from others and especially your potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their careers or their previous achievements. Perhaps due to modesty or the fear of being asked questions that are personal to them interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most intimidating parts that are required to hire.
This doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are a great means for the candidate to show that their competencies as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve been through the first step, with your resume making it through ATS scanners and your name being selected for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate further on your resume, experience, and key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned step to the front and if you can convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate this increases your chances of getting through to the next step in the final selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews if you have fears about speaking about your accomplishments. It is important to practice, and fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some suggestions you can apply to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your future employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, mostly because they are trying to gain information, but also, since they want to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and concerns. Consider, for instance, the question "Why are you leaving your current job?"
The answer to this question could be due to management concerns, or issues about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer however, the manner the way you frame the answer will indicate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your responses using as much objectivity possible. This includes removing any emotional responses such as responses based on emotions or feelings and are not substantiated by evidence.
Other questions to be prepared for are "What motivated you to apply for this role?", "Why should us choose to hire us?", or trick questions like "Why should you not choose you?" The key is not to lose your cool and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and then provide a concise explanation or a brief summary of the reasons you responded in a certain way. Then, add examples or further elaborate. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly the topic, return to the previous section.
If you’re asked to describe your involvement in a project or task it is possible to employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding on selection criteria. In using STAR you will need to write a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the results.
All it is in the body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be a tall order, but you can always try to practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted person to ask you questions and take note of your actions. Are you fidgeting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you look stiff, standoffish, defensive or shut off in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect the point you are trying to make? Do you convey genuineness, honesty and genuine interest?
Be aware of your strengths and your weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, be sure to go over the job description over again. Assuming you read the job description and used the roles and responsibilities listed therein to modify and customise your resume and other selection documents, it is important to review the job description to clearly package yourself for the interviewer. Be candid and open about your strengths and weaknesses. Being honest about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your strengths as a potential client. However, showing your determination to address your weaknesses will be just as notable.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is to show genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve noticed something you like within the description of your job, or if you have any questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job packet or the general page for hiring About section) Make sure to bring them up at the conclusion of the interview, when your interviewer invites you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer are:
"How can I be the best person for the task, if given the opportunity to work alongside the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway currently"
"What are the potential opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or within a set of options, in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may ask you how much you anticipate earning. The most important thing to do is provide a range in which you’d like your earnings to be, rather than providing an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the limit to a narrow range instead of providing any wide range. For instance, if are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a sensible choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any other perks and benefits in addition to these when you think about your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your bag is vital for ensuring you are in readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials , and also for the preparation for your interview, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants can help you with your interview preparation stages. Contact us now for your free quote or contact us directly for a chat with one of our consultants on 0800 215 100.
