Ace Your Interviews: Preparation Guide
A major and difficult aspects of job hunting is the dreaded interview round. The fear of an interview is a natural consequence of seeking recognition and acceptance from other people particularly from prospective employers. Although talking about oneself may be a natural thing for some but others feel nervous about being asked questions regarding their work or prior achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort arising from being asked questions that are personal to them, the interview has become an extremely stressful parts of the hiring process.
It doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are the best opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You’ve already been through the first step and your resume has made the cut through ATS scanners and your name getting a callback. The chance to show and elaborate further on the profile of your employer, background and the most important skills and abilities is the proverbial foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer you have what it takes this increases your chances of passing to the next step in the final selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with fears about speaking about your personal achievements. The practice is essential and, fortunately, interview questions can be practiced prior to the time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some helpful tips you can use to increase your chances at nailing that interview and impressing prospective employers:
Make yourself comfortable when faced with tricky questions.
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions mostly because they are trying to elicit information, but also, because they want to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and issues. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current job?"
The answer may be because of problems with management, or concerns regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason but the way that you formulate your answer will demonstrate your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your reasoning 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 facts.
Other questions to consider are "What motivated you to apply for this role?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why do us not hire you?" The key is to stay calm and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and then follow it up with a short reason or summary as to the reasons you responded in a certain manner. After that, you can add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your previous point.
Similarly, if you are required to explain your participation on a project or task then you can apply to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to selection criteria. If you are using STAR, you must state an Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken as well as the final result.
It’s all in body language
Behaving naturally in a stressful environment can be a daunting task, but you can always practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions of you and take note of your actions. Are you shifting or fidgeting about nervously? Are you looking intimidating, stiff, defensive or aloof in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match what you want to make? Do you convey authenticity, openness and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weak points.
Prior to the interview, be sure to go over the description of the position. If you have read the job description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined therein to modify and customise your resume and other selection documents It is essential to look at the job description in order to accurately present yourself to the interviewer. Be upfront and honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Being honest about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your strengths as a potential customer. However, announcing your intention to address your weaknesses will be just as important.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The most appropriate person to ask questions is your interviewer. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting in the job description, or if you have concerns that weren’t answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which can be found in the job packet or the general page for hiring about section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview when the interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer include:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the job, should I be given the opportunity to work alongside members of your staff?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on at the moment"
"What are the chances to further develop and learn?"
Know your salary expectations
Other benefits and packages for salary are often advertised with the job (or within a set of options, for those applying through SEEK). However, interviewers could inquire about the amount you are expecting. The most important thing to do is include a range that you’d like your pay to fall rather than giving an exact, fixed amount. Keep your range tight instead of giving any wide range. For example, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a good choice would be anything from the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you think about your salary expectations.
Having these preparatory steps in your bag is vital to ensure you have the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents or credentials as well as interviews, please contact Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants are able to guide you through the interview preparation stages. Contact us now for the free quotation or call us direct to speak to one of our consultants at 0800 215 100.
