Strategies for Interview Success
Perhaps the most frightening aspects of job hunting is the dreaded interview round. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting to seek acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. While speaking about themselves may be a natural thing for some, others are apprehensive about being asked questions about their career or past achievements. Perhaps out of modesty and the discomfort arising from being asked questions about their personal life interviews have turned out to be an extremely intimidating aspects in the process of hiring.
This doesn’t need to be the case.
Interviews are an important way for the applicant to showcase their abilities as well as their accomplishments and capabilities. You’ve made it through the first step, with your resume making it through ATS scanners and you getting a callback. This chance to present and elaborate upon the profile of your employer, background as well as key abilities and abilities is the proverbial entrance into the interview when you convince the interviewer you’re the right candidate that increases your chances of getting through the next phase of the selection process.
It is a good idea to prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with apprehensions about talking about your own achievements. Training is the key to success, and fortunately, interview questions can be rehearsed before the date. The secret to successful interviews is preparation, and here are some suggestions you can use to increase your chances of getting through that interview and impressing your prospective employers:
Get comfortable around tricky questions.
Interviewers pose challenging questions partially because they wish to elicit information however, also in order to help you navigate your way out of potentially contentious topics and worries. For instance, consider the question "Why are you resigning from your current role?"
The answer could be due to managerial issues, or worries about the balance between work and life, etc. Whatever the reason, however, the manner in which you phrase your answer will demonstrate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Give a clear and honest explanation of your reasoning in the most objective way possible. This means eliminating any emotional responses , such as answers that are based purely on sentiments or feelings, that are not supported by actual facts.
Other questions to prepare for include "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should we hire you?", or trick questions such as "Why should you not take you on?" The key is to not lose composure and organise your thoughts carefully.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Introduce your idea and follow up with a short explanation or a brief summary of why you chose to respond in a specific manner. Add examples or further elaborate. After you’ve clarified your points thoroughly then return to the previous section.
In the same way, if you’re asked to write about your involvement in a particular project or task it is possible to apply the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding to selection criteria. In using STAR you will need to write a context,followed by a Task,then a description of the actionstaken, and lastly, the Result.
The body language
Being natural in a stressful environment can be difficult however, you can try to practice professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a trusted person to inquire about your concerns and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting about nervously? Are you looking rigid, aloof, defensive or aloof in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Are your facial expressions consistent with the message you’re trying to convey? Do you convey sincerity, authenticity and genuine interest?
Be aware of your strengths and weak points.
Before you go to the interview, be sure to review the job description over again. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and responsibilities outlined therein to modify and customise your resume as well as other selection documents It is crucial to look at the job description in order to accurately prepare yourself for interviewers. Be honest and upfront concerning your abilities and shortcomings. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to see your unique selling points as a prospect. However, announcing your intention to work on your weaknesses will also be important.
Prepare questions
Another aspect to consider in the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm in the role and in the company. The best person to approach is the interviewer. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting on the resume, or if you have concerns that weren’t answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which are usually found in the job packet or the general page for hiring About section), raise these at the conclusion of the interview, after your interviewer invites you to ask questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer are:
"How do I become the most qualified person for this job, if I am offered the chance to work with the team?"
"Does the company have any major projects in the pipeline currently"
"What are the opportunities for further development and training?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are generally advertised with the position (or in a variety if applying through SEEK). However, the interviewer may be interested in knowing what you expect to earn. An important point to remember is to provide a range in which you’d like your earnings to fall instead of offering an exact number or a set amount. Make sure to keep your range as narrow as possible instead of offering a an expansive margin. For instance, if you expect to make $75,000 a year, an appropriate range would be in the $73,000 to $80,000 or anywhere within the $10,000-$10,000 range. Be mindful of other benefits and perks too and think about these when you think about your salary expectations.
These steps to prepare in your purse is important to be prepared with the readiness to face the toughest questions. Be confident, feel confident, and be bold.
For assistance in recruitment-related documents and credentials and for interviews, please contact Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to assist you in your preparation phases. Contact us today to receive your free quotation or phone us directly to speak to one of our consultants at 0800 024 129.
