Strategies for Interview Success
A major and difficult aspects of the job search is the daunting interview process. Fear of being interviewed is a natural result of wanting the approval and support of others particularly from prospective employers. While speaking about themselves may be natural for some but others feel nervous about being asked about their work or prior achievements. Perhaps due to modesty or the discomfort that comes with being asked to answer personal questions interviews have turned out to be one of the biggest and most intimidating aspects of the hiring process.
This doesn’t need to be the situation.
Interviews are the best way for the applicant to prove their capabilities, achievements, and potentials. You have already completed the initial step with your resume passing the cut through ATS scanners, and your name being shortlisted for an interview. The chance to show and further elaborate on your profile, work history, and key skills and expertise is the proverbial entrance into the interview If you can convince the interviewer you’re qualified this increases your chances of passing through the next phase of the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interview questions if you’re struggling with fears about speaking about your personal achievements. The practice is essential and luckily, interview questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation. Here are some tips that you can implement to improve your chances of getting through that interview and impressing your future employers:
Learn to be comfortable around difficult questions
Interviewers pose challenging questions partially because they wish to elicit information however, also in order to help how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and concerns. For instance, consider the question "Why have you decided to quit your current position?"
The answer to the question could be due to management issues, or concerns with work-life balance, etc. No matter the answer, however, the manner that you formulate your answer will demonstrate your capacity to be a fair and objective observer. Be honest and articulate your reasoning in the most objective way possible. This means that you should eliminate any emotional responses , such as answers based on sentiments or feelings, and are not substantiated by evidence.
Other questions to consider include "What made you apply for this role?", "Why should we hire the person we chose to hire?", or trick questions such as "Why do us not hire you?" The key is to stay calm and arrange your thoughts with care.
Before speaking, outline your thoughts using the PREP method: POINT-REASON-EXPLANATION/EXAMPLE/-POINT. Start with your statement and follow with a brief argument or explanation of why you chose to respond in a specific manner. After that, you can add specific examples or provide more details. Once you’ve thoroughly explained, go back to the previous section.
If you’re requested to provide a description of your participation in a project or task and you are required to describe your involvement, you could employ this method. STAR Method, which is typically used to respond on selection criteria. When you use STAR, you must state an situation,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken then the result.
The body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be difficult, but you can always make sure you are practicing professional communication. Put yourself in front of the mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask questions and observe your body language. Are you shifting or fidgeting around in a tense manner? Are you looking uneasy, aggressive or shut off in your body language? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions reflect your message you’re trying to convey? Do you convey genuineness, honesty and genuine enthusiasm?
Think about your strengths and weaknesses
Prior to your interview, be sure to go over the job description once more. In the event that you’ve read the description and used the roles and duties listed within to customize and modify your resume and other document of selection It is imperative to look at the job description and how you will present yourself to the interviewer. Be honest and upfront on your strength and weakness. Being open regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to notice your strengths as a prospect. But, indicating your intention to address your weaknesses will also be relevant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine interest in the job and within the company. The best person to approach to ask questions of the person interviewing you is. If you’ve seen something that’s interesting on the resume, or you have questions that have not been answered by their FAQ page or their 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 your interviewer encourages you to ask questions. The most interesting questions you could ask your employer are:
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the task, if offered the chance to work with the team?"
"Does the company has any major projects going on currently"
"What are the opportunities for advancement and further training?"
Know your salary expectations
Benefits and salary packages are typically advertised along with the position (or in a variety, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers may still ask you how much you are expecting. An important point to remember is to provide a range in which you would like your salary to be based instead of giving an exact number or a set amount. Keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a any wide range. For instance, if expect to make $75,000 a year, an appropriate range is anywhere between the $73,000 to $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 bag is vital to be prepared with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, feel confident and bold.
If you need assistance with documents related to recruitment and credentials , and also for interview preparation, reach out to Perth Resume. Our professional and friendly consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation steps. Contact us now for the no-cost quote or contact us directly to speak with one of our consultants on 1300 648 974.
