Interview Preparation Tactics
A major and frightening aspects of the job search is the dreaded interview round. Fear of being interviewed is a natural consequence of seeking approval and validation from others particularly from prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be a natural thing for some however, many are nervous about being asked questions about their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the discomfort that comes with being asked questions that are personal to them interviews have turned out to be an extremely intimidating parts of the hiring process.
This doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are an important means for the candidate to show that their competencies, achievements, and potentials. It’s been a while since you’ve made it through the first step with your resume passing an appearance on ATS scanners and you being considered for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and further elaborate on your profile, work history and the most important skills and experience is the equivalent of getting a entrance into the interview when you convince the interviewer you’re a good fit this increases your chances of passing through the next stage of the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing apprehensions about talking about your accomplishments. Training is the key to success and luckily, interview questions can be practiced ahead of time. The key to flawless interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing your potential employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions partly because they want to get information from you however, also because they want to see you get out of potentially contentious topics and concerns. Consider, for instance, the question "Why are you leaving your current job?"
The answer may be because of managerial issues, or worries about work-life balance. No matter the answer but the way in which you phrase your response will signal your capacity to be an objective and fair observer. Be honest and articulate your reasoning with as much objectivity as feasible. This includes removing emotional responses like responses based on sentiments or feelings, and do not have any basis in facts.
Other questions to prepare for include "What made you apply for this job?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why do we not choose you?" The key is to remain calm 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 then follow it up with a short reason or summary as to the reason you reacted in a particular way. Next, provide specific examples or provide more details. After you have explained thoroughly then return to your original point.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a project or task then you can utilize an approach called the STAR Method, which is often used when responding the selection requirements. When using STAR it is necessary to describe a Situation,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken followed by the result.
It’s all in body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful situation may be a challenge However, you can learn to communicate professionally. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting around with a nervousness? Are you looking intimidating, stiff, defensive or aloof in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions in line with what you want to convey? Do you communicate openness, sincerity, and genuine interest?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Before you go to the interview, ensure that you review the job description once more. If you have read the job description and then used the roles and responsibilities listed within to customize and modify your resume and other document of selection It is essential to think about the job description and how you will package yourself for the interviewer. Be open and honest concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being realistic regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your strengths as a potential customer. But, indicating your intention to improve your weaknesses will also be significant.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is to show genuine interest in the job and within the business. The most appropriate person to ask questions is your interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing on the resume or if you have any concerns that weren’t answered by their FAQ page or the guide questions (which typically are found in the job description or the general page for hiring about section) Make sure to bring them up at the conclusion of the interview when the interviewer encourages you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer:
"How do I become an ideal candidate for the task, if given the chance to work alongside the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects on right now"
"What are the opportunities to advance and further education?"
Know your salary expectations
The salary package and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or within a set of options in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may want to know what salary you anticipate earning. The most important thing to do is offer a range within which you’d like your pay to be, rather than providing an exact number or a set amount. Be sure to keep the limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a good range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Also, be aware of other benefits and perks too and think about these when you consider your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your back pocket is essential to ensure you have the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and be courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interview preparation, you may reach out to Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you through your preparatory stages. Contact us today to receive your free quotation or contact us directly to speak with one our experts on 03 9909 5130.
