Steps to Interview Readiness
One of the most difficult aspects of the job search is the interview stage. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people and especially your potential employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may be a natural thing for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions regarding their professional or previous achievements. Perhaps it is because of modesty or the anxiety that comes from being asked personal questions The interview process has evolved into one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts in the process of hiring.
This doesn’t need to be the situation.
Interviews are an important means for the candidate to demonstrate their skills, achievements, and potentials. You have already made it through the first step, with your resume making the cut through ATS scanners and you being selected for an interview. This chance to present and elaborate on your resume, experience and the most important skills and knowledge is the aforementioned entrance into the interview and if you can convince the interviewer you’re qualified you increase your odds of passing to the next step in the selection process.
You can, fortunately, prepare for interviews even if you’re having doubts about speaking about your own achievements. Practice is key and luckily, interview questions can be rehearsed in advance. The secret to flawless interviews is preparation, and here are some helpful tips you can apply to boost your chances at nailing that 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 gather information, but also, since they want to help you navigate your way out of potential contentious issues and worries. For instance, consider the question "Why are you resigning from your current position?"
The answer to this question could be due to managerial issues, or worries regarding work-life balance, for instance. Whatever the reason however, the manner the way you frame your response will signal your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your reasoning using as much objectivity feasible. This includes removing emotional responses like responses based on feelings or sentiments and are not substantiated by factual evidence.
Other important questions to ask are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should us choose to hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions like "Why should us not take you on?" The key is not to lose your cool and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow with a brief explanation or a brief summary of why you chose to respond in a specific way. Add instances or elaborate. Once you’ve thoroughly explained you can go back to your previous point.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a task or project then you can use this method. STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond on selection criteria. In using STAR, you must state an context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken then the result.
The body language
The ability to act naturally in difficult situation can be a challenge but it is possible to practice professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions and take note of your actions. Are you flitting or shifting around in a tense manner? Do you seem stiff, standoffish, defensive or shut off in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the message you’re trying to make? Do you communicate authenticity, openness and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Before the interview, make sure you review the description of the position. In the event that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and duties listed in the description to make changes to your resume as well as other selection documents, it is important to think about the job description to honestly present yourself to the interviewer. Be candid and open about your strengths and weaknesses. Being honest about your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your unique selling points as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to work on your weak points will be equally important.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to approach is the interviewer. If you have noticed something intriguing from the job descriptions, or you have questions not answered on their FAQ page or guide questions (which can be found in the job application or their general hiring page about section) You can raise them during the interview when the interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be the most qualified person for this job, if I am given the chance to work with members of your staff?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline right now"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are often advertised with the position (or within a set of options when applying via SEEK). However, the interviewer may be interested in knowing what you’re expecting to earn. The most important thing to do is offer a range within which you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact or set number. Try to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a an expansive margin. If, for instance, you expect to make $75,000 a year, a reasonable range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 area or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be aware of any other perks and benefits as well and consider these when you evaluate your salary goals.
Inputting these steps into your bag is vital to equip yourself with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, be self-assured and be courageous.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, contact Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation steps. Contact us now for your free quotation or phone us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 0800 024 129.
