Interview Readiness Blueprint
A major and intimidating aspect of job hunts is the dreaded interview round. The fear of an interview is a natural result of wanting to seek acceptance and approval from others, especially from your prospective employers. Although expressing their opinions about themselves might be natural for some, others are apprehensive about being asked about their career or past accomplishments. Perhaps because of modesty, or the discomfort arising from being asked personal questions, the interview has become an extremely stressful parts during the selection process.
This doesn’t need to be the scenario.
Interviews are the best way for the applicant to prove their capabilities, achievements, and potentials. You’ve made it through the first step, with your resume making it through ATS scanners and you being selected for an interview. The chance to show and further elaborate on one’s profile, employment history, and key skills and knowledge is the aforementioned step to the front: if you convince the interviewer you have what it takes that increases your chances of passing to the next step in the final selection process.
Luckily, you can prepare for interviews in case you’re experiencing doubts about speaking about your accomplishments. Practice is key, and fortunately, interview questions can be practiced in advance. The secret to successful interviews is preparation, and here are some tips that you can use to increase your chances of nailing the 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 get information from you however, also because they want to see how you can get rid of potentially contentious topics and concerns. Consider for instance the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?"
The reason for this may be because of management concerns, or issues about work-life balance. Whatever the reason but the way that you formulate your response will signal your ability to be an objective and fair observer. Respond honestly and explain your responses using as much objectivity is possible. This means removing any emotional responses , such as answers based on emotions or feelings that are not supported by factual evidence.
Other questions to consider are "What motivated you to apply for this position?", "Why should we choose you?", or trick questions such as "Why do you not choose you?" 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. Start with your statement and then provide a concise note of the reason or reasons why you responded a certain manner. Next, provide instances or elaborate. Once you’ve explained everything thoroughly, go back to your previous point.
If you’re asked to write about your involvement on a project or task then you can employ to describe your involvement in a project or task, you can use the STAR Method, which is also usually used in responding the selection requirements. When you use STAR you will need to write a context,followed by a Task,then a description of Actionstaken followed by the Result.
The body language
Behaving naturally in a difficult situation can be a daunting task However, you can try to practice professional communication. Sit in front of a mirror or ask a trusted friend to ask you questions and observe your body language. Are you fidgeting or shifting about nervously? Do you appear rigid, aloof, defensive, or closed off in your body or speech? Do you use appropriate gestures? Do your facial expressions match the point you are trying to convey? Do you show sincerity, authenticity and genuine enthusiasm?
Consider your strengths and your weaknesses.
Prior to your interview, make sure you go over the description of the position. Assuming that you’ve read the description and applied the roles and duties listed within to customize and modify your resume and other documents for selection It is imperative to think about the job description to honestly package yourself for the interviewer. Be upfront and honest on your strength and weakness. Being realistic regarding your strengths will allow the interviewer to note your strengths as a prospect. However, signalling your intent to improve your weaknesses is just as significant.
Prepare questions
Another important aspect of the interview is showing genuine enthusiasm about the job and the business. The best person to inquire for questions during the interview is the one you interview. If you noticed something interesting on the resume, or you have questions not answered on their FAQ page or the guide questions (which are usually found in the job description or the general page for hiring About section), raise these at the end of the interview, after your interviewer asks you to pose questions. Some of the questions you could ask your employer
"How can I be an ideal candidate for the job, should I be given the chance to work alongside your team?"
"Does the company have any major projects underway at the moment"
"What are the chances to further develop and learn?"
Be aware of your salary expectations
Salary packages and other benefits are typically advertised along with the job (or within a set of options, when applying via SEEK). However, interviewers could want to know what salary you expect to earn. The most important thing to do is provide a range in which you’d like your salary to fall rather than giving an exact or fixed number. Make sure to keep your limits to a certain extent instead of allowing a the possibility of a large margin. For instance, if anticipate earning $75,000 per year, a good range would be anywhere in the $73,000-$80,000 range or anywhere within the $10,000 range. Be mindful of additional perks and benefits in addition to these when you are evaluating your salary goals.
These steps to prepare in your pocket is crucial to be prepared with the ability to tackle the most difficult questions. Be confident, be self-assured and bold.
For help with the recruitment process, documents and credentials and for the preparation for your interview, contact Perth Resume. Our friendly and highly trained consultants will be able to help you with your interview preparation phases. Contact us today for an no-cost quote or phone us directly to speak to one of our consultants on 1300 648 974.
