Interview Preparation Tactics
The most daunting aspects of the job search is the interview stage. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting to seek recognition and acceptance from other people, especially from your prospective employers. While expressing themselves in a positive manner may seem natural to certain people but others feel nervous about being asked about their career or past achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the anxiety that comes from being asked personal questions interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts that are required to hire.
This doesn’t have to be the situation.
Interviews are a crucial opportunity for applicants to showcase their abilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. It’s been a while since you’ve passed the first step and your resume has made an appearance on ATS scanners and getting a callback. The chance to show and elaborate on your profile, work history and the most important skills and knowledge is the aforementioned foot in the door and if you can convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate you increase your odds to be selected for the next phase of the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews if you have doubts about speaking about your personal achievements. Training is the key to success to a successful interview, and luckily, the questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can implement to improve your chances of aceing that interview and impressing future employers.
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers will ask you tough questions, partly because they want to get information from you however, also because they want to help you get out of potentially contentious questions and issues. Take for example the question "Why are you leaving your current position?"
The reason for this could be due to management concerns, or issues regarding work-life balance, for instance. No matter the answer but the way the way you frame your response will signal your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your response with as much objectivity as is possible. This means eliminating any emotional responses , such as answers based on feelings or emotions that are not supported by actual facts.
Other important questions to ask are "What inspired you to apply for this role?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions such as "Why do you not employ you?" The key is to not lose composure and organize your thoughts in a systematic manner.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Begin with your topic and follow with a brief note of the reason or reasons the reason you reacted in a particular way. Then, add details or go into more detail. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly you can go back to the point you made earlier.
Also, if required to explain your participation in a task or project then you can use the STAR Method, which is often used when responding the selection requirements. When you use STAR the first thing you need to do is write a scenario,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken, and lastly, the results.
The body language
The ability to act naturally in stressful situation could be difficult However, you can try to practice professional communication. Place yourself in front of a mirror or ask a friend you trust to inquire about your concerns and take note of your actions. Are you moving or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Are you looking uneasy, aggressive or shut off in your body and speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to convey? Do you communicate authenticity, openness and genuine interest?
Consider your strengths and weak points.
Before the interview, be sure to read the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and responsibilities outlined in it to alter and personalize your resume and other documents for selection It is essential to look at the job description to honestly prepare yourself for interviewers. Be candid and open concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being realistic about your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your strengths as a prospective client. However, announcing your intention to address your weaknesses is just as important.
Prepare questions
Another crucial aspect of an interview is showing genuine interest for the position and the business. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you noticed something interesting within the description of your job, or if you have questions that were left unanswered by their FAQ page or guide questions (which are usually found in the job application or their general hiring page About section), raise these at the end of the interview when the interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. A few questions that you can ask your employer:
"How do I become the most suitable person for the task, if given the opportunity to be part of your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline at the moment"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know what your salary expectations are.
Salary packages and other benefits are usually advertised alongside the job (or within a set of options in the case of SEEK). However, the interviewer may inquire about the amount you expect to earn. One important tip is to provide a range in which you would like your salary to be based instead of giving an exact, fixed amount. Try to keep your limit to a narrow range instead of providing an expansive margin. For example, if you are expecting to earn $75,000 per year, a reasonable range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $80,000 or anyplace within the $10,000 range. Consider additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your back pocket is essential to ensure you have the confidence to answer the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured, and be bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, you may get in touch with Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants can help you through your preparatory steps. Contact us today to receive the free quote or contact us directly for a chat with one of our experts on 08 9468 9176.
