Mastering Interview Readiness
A major and daunting aspects of job hunting is the fear of an interview. Interview fear is a natural consequence of seeking acceptance and approval from others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might come naturally to some people but others feel nervous about being asked questions regarding their career or past achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked to answer personal questions interviews have turned out to be an extremely stressful parts that are required to hire.
This does not have to be the case.
Interviews are an important means for the candidate to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already completed the initial step and your resume has made an appearance on ATS scanners and your name being shortlisted for an interview. The chance to show and further elaborate on your profile, work history and the most important skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a step to the front and if you can convince the interviewer you’re a good fit that increases your chances of getting through to the next step in the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing fears about speaking about your accomplishments. Training is the key to success and luckily, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The secret to successful interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can apply to boost your chances of nailing the interview and impressing your potential employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partially because they wish to elicit information however, also in order to help you come out of potentially contentious topics and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current role?"
The reason for this could be due to management issues, or concerns about work-life balance. No matter the answer but the way that you express your response will signal your ability to be a fair and objective observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your responses using as much objectivity can be. This means removing any emotional responses such as responses that are based solely on feelings or emotions that are not supported by evidence.
Other important questions to ask are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should us choose to hire you?", or trick questions like "Why should we not employ you?" The key is to not lose composure and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and follow up with a short reason or summary as to the reason you reacted in a particular way. Then, add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly then return to your original point.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could use this method. STAR Method, which is often used when responding the selection requirements. When you use STAR it is necessary to describe an scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the result.
The body language
Acting naturally in a difficult situation can be a tall order, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions and note your mannerisms. Are you fidgeting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you appear stiff, standoffish, defensive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with your message you’re trying to make? Do you communicate genuineness, honesty and genuine enthusiasm?
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, make sure you review the description of the position. Assuming that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and responsibilities outlined in the description to make changes to your resume as well as other selection documents It is crucial to look at the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be upfront and honest regarding your weaknesses and strengths. Being truthful regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your selling points as a prospective client. However, announcing your intention to improve your weaknesses will be just as significant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest in the role and in the company. The most appropriate person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting within the description of your job or if you’ve got any questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or their guide questions (which can be found in the job application or their general hiring page About section) Bring them up after the interview when the interviewer encourages you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer include:
"How do I become the most suitable person for the task, if offered the chance to work with the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on currently"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the position (or as part of a range, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still be interested in knowing what you’re expecting to earn. A good tip is to give a range of where you’d like your pay to fall rather than giving an exact or fixed number. Be sure to keep the range tight instead of giving any wide range. For example, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a sensible choice would be anything from the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits also and take these into consideration when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your purse is important to be prepared with the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured, and be bold.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials , and also for interview preparation, contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to guide you through the interview preparation stages. Contact us today to receive an complimentary quote or to call us directly for a chat with one of our consultants on 1300 987 836.
