Ready Yourself for Interviews

The most frightening aspect of job hunts is the interview stage. Interview fear is a natural consequence of seeking approval and validation from others and especially your potential employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be natural for some, others are apprehensive about being asked about their career or past achievements. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort that comes with being asked questions about their personal life, the interview has become one of the biggest and most nerve-wracking parts during the selection process.
This doesn’t have to be the case.
Interviews are a great method for applicants to demonstrate their skills have been demonstrated, as well as their potential. You’ve already passed the first step and your resume has made an appearance on ATS scanners and your name being shortlisted for an interview. This is the chance to showcase and elaborate upon one’s profile, employment history as well as the key skills and abilities is the proverbial way to get noticed: if you convince the interviewer that you’re the right candidate that increases your chances of passing through the next step of the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interviews even if you’re having apprehensions about talking about your own achievements. The practice is essential and luckily, interview questions can be practiced before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some guidelines you can apply to boost your chances of aceing that interview and impressing future employers.
Be comfortable with difficult questions
Interviewers are able to ask tough questions mostly because they are trying to gain information as well as because they want to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and worries. Consider for instance the question "Why are you leaving your current role?"
The reason for this may be because of managerial issues, or worries about the balance between work and life, etc. No matter the answer, however, the manner in which you phrase the answer will indicate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Answer honestly and explain your answer in the most objective way can be. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses such as responses based on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for include "What did you do to get this role?", "Why should us choose to hire your services?", or trick questions such as "Why should you not choose you?" The key is to not lose composure and plan your thoughts well.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short reason or summary as to why you responded a certain manner. Next, provide specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained, go back to the point you made earlier.
Similarly, if you are asked to write about your involvement in a task or project it is possible to utilize this method. STAR Method, which is commonly used to respond to criteria for selection. If you are using STAR the first thing you need to do is write an 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 could be a tall order, but you can always learn to communicate professionally. Place yourself in front of a mirror or have a trusted companion to ask questions of you and take note of your actions. Are you moving or fidgeting about with anxiety? Are you looking intimidating, stiff, defensive or reserved in your body expression? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with what you want to make? Do you communicate openness, sincerity and genuine concern?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses
Prior to the interview, you should read the job description again. Assuming that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and responsibilities described in the description to make changes to your resume and other documents for selection, it is important to consider the job description to honestly describe yourself to the interviewer. Be upfront and honest concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being honest about your strengths will enable the interviewer to see your strengths as a prospective client. However, signalling your intent to improve your weak points will be equally notable.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest in the job and within the company. The best person to ask to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting in the job description or you have concerns that weren’t answered on their FAQ page or their guide questions (which typically are found in the job application or the general page for hiring About section) Bring them up after the interview, after your interviewer is encouraging you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer:
"How can I be the most suitable person for the job, should I be given the opportunity to be part of your team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on currently"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the position (or within a set of options, in the case of SEEK). But, interviewers might ask you how much you are expecting. The most important thing to do is include a range that you’d like your earnings to be based instead of giving an exact or fixed number. Make sure to keep your range tight instead of giving any wide range. For instance, if you think you will earn $75,000 in a year, a reasonable range would be in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Also, be aware of other benefits and perks too and think about these when you evaluate your salary goals.
Having these preparatory steps in your back pocket is essential to ensure you have the capability to handle the toughest questions. Be confident, self-assured and courageous.
To assist with recruitment-related documents and certificates, as well as for interview preparation, get in touch with Perth Resume. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants are able to guide you through the interview preparation steps. Contact us today to receive the free quote or phone us directly to speak with one our consultants at 1300 871 072.