Interview Preparation Tactics
One of the most intimidating aspect of job hunts is the interview stage. Interview fear is a natural result of wanting to seek acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may seem natural to certain people, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps due to modesty or the discomfort that comes with being asked to answer personal questions Interviews have become an extremely stressful parts that are required to hire.
This doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are the best opportunity for applicants to prove their capabilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve already passed the first step, with your resume making the cut through ATS scanners and your name being selected for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and further elaborate on the profile of your employer, background as well as key abilities and expertise is the proverbial foot in the door If you can convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances to be selected for the next phase of the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing apprehensions about talking about your achievements. It is important to practice, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced prior to the time. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some guidelines you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing your prospective employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions in part, to elicit information however, also since they want to help how you can get rid of potential contentious issues and concerns. Take for example the question "Why are you resigning from your current role?"
The answer to this question may be because of management issues, or concerns with work-life balance, etc. No matter the answer, however, the manner that you formulate your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your response using as much objectivity is possible. This means removing all emotional responses, like answers that are based purely on emotions or feelings and are not substantiated by evidence.
Other questions to prepare for are "What did you do to get this position?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions such as "Why should we not employ you?" The key is to stay calm and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow with a brief explanation or a brief summary of why you responded a certain manner. Add examples or further elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your previous point.
Also, if 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 typically used to respond the selection requirements. If you are using STAR you will need to write a situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the Result.
It’s all in body language
Acting naturally in a stressful situation may be a tall order However, you can try to practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting around with a nervousness? Do you seem uneasy, aggressive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with what you want to convey? Do you communicate genuineness, honesty and genuine concern?
Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses
Prior to your interview, make sure you review the job description again. If you have read the job description and utilized the roles and responsibilities outlined within to customize and modify your resume and other selection documents It is essential to consider the job description to honestly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be candid and open on your strength and weakness. Being truthful regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your selling points as a potential client. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses is just as relevant.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm about the job and the company. The most appropriate person to ask is the interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing from the job descriptions, or if you have concerns that weren’t answered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which are usually found in the job description or their general hiring page about section) Bring them up at the end of the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer:
"How do I become the best person for the job, if I am offered the chance to work with your team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on at the moment"
"What are the opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Other benefits and packages for salary are usually advertised alongside the job (or in a variety, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might ask you how much you are expecting. One important tip is to include a range that you’d like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact, fixed amount. Be sure to keep the range as narrow as possible instead of offering a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a good range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any other benefits and perks in addition to these when you evaluate your salary goals.
The preparation steps you have in your purse is important for ensuring you are in readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, be self-assured, and be bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials and for interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants are able to help you through your preparatory phases. Contact us today for the no-cost quote or call us direct to speak to one of our consultants on 03 9909 5130.
