We understand that interviews can be nerve-racking here are some tips and advice on how to bring out the best side of you and shine in your interview.
Walking into an interview unprepared is never a good idea. To help you for the daunting interview stage, we at ASTAR Recruitment have provided you with some of our top job interview tips to help place you in that shortlist of potential candidates.
It is important to remember that you can never be too prepared for an interview!
Researching the company beforehand helps you to prepare intelligent questions that you may ask in the interview. By asking questions, you can learn more about the company and the position that you applied for. Here are a few questions that you can prepare responses for.
During an interview, you must demonstrate how you can be an asset to the company. Based on the research you do of the company, you can decide how you would like to present your strengths to the interviewer.
Avoid using ambiguous terms and clichés. For example, if the job criteria asks about your communication skills instead of saying, ‘I get along with everyone’ say something that is more measurable.
This could be ‘By visiting the Finance Department regularly and exchanging ideas, we were able to work together. This resulted in saving the company thousands of dollars per quarter’.
Be equipped
In addition to asking questions, you need to prepare yourself to answer the difficult questions they may ask you. You can not predict every question that you will be asked during the interview, but by preparing answers to the most common questions you will be better equipped for the interview.
Please refer to the ‘commonly asked job interview questions’ section.
Record yourself to review
Start this process by writing a few notes on how you want to introduce yourself, what you want to ask the interviewer and what you would answer to common questions the interviewer may ask you.
When talking out loud, you can even record yourself to review what you said and modify it where necessary.
What sets you apart from the other candidates
Be prepared to communication why the role appeals to you, why you should be considered for the role and what sets you apart from the other candidates.
Eliminate the stress of the interview day
It is normal to feel nervous the day before the interview. That is why it is helpful to prepare with the checklist provided below. This checklist can help you make sure that you have all things covered. By following this list, it will help you eliminate the stress of the interview day.
Planning your outfit the day before your interview helps alleviate any stress that may occur on the morning of your interview. It leaves a great impression if your shoes are polished, you have stockings that do not have a ladder and that your outfit is wrinkle and stain free.
Pack your bag with all the vital items you may need. That is, a copy of your resume and portfolio if necessary, mints, an interview cheat sheet, a phone charger, extra stockings, your wallet with an ID and any relevant tickets and deodorant to name a few.
Write down the interview location and contact details as a quick reference. If unsure where the interview is located, it is wise to search on the internet the day before to find out how you will get there.
Google maps can be a life saver! Whether you are travelling by car, bus or train, it is wise to look up the company office details and plan how long you will need to travel there. That way, you can ensure that you will arrive on time for your interview. It is also wise to search for parking options.
If you have planned answers to possible questions that the interviewer may ask as well as questions that you wish to ask the interviewer, it is good to review these answers before the interview.
Make sure you know the names of the individual(s) that will be interviewing you and what their title is in the company. If unsure, look at their LinkedIn profile!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Always consider what you will be having for breakfast and/or lunch, depending on what time of day the interview is scheduled.
It won’t hurt to have an extra reminder!
Guide to help you answer 5 of the most common interview questions.
At ASTAR Recruitment, we want to help you through the nerves of an interview. Often nerves can get the better of you, so we have created a guide to help you answer 5 of the most common interview questions. These are:
Prepare answers to these common questions and be super ready for your interview.
If you read clothing guides on what to wear to a job interview, you will most likely be told to wear a suit/skirt for the best chance of interview success.
However, it is as simple as that. Progressively more and more employers are allowing casual dress – especially in the creative industries. Yet in saying that, you would not want to turn up for an interview dressed in a t-shirt and runners (no matter how casual the dress code is).
To add to the confusion further, dress codes are often cultural. They shift with the seasons and change over time. Therefore, the best way you can resolve your interview attire dilemma is to simply ask the interviewer beforehand.
Email or call the employer’s HR manager before your interview and ask them about the appropriate dress code for the interview. It is a simple strategy and can help you avoid overdressing or under-dressing and will do wonders for your confidence going right into the interview.
You may also wish to do some company research on LinkedIn or Facebook. Check out the employer profiles and office photos to see how they dress and present themselves.
ASTAR Recruitment has prepared 8 key points to help you decide what to wear to a job interview. Please note that this is a guide only.
Well done you’ve been shortlist
Always get consent from your referee’s before listing them on your resume. Your referees would generally only be contacted if your application progresses and you are placed on a shortlist.
If you prefer, you can leave this section blank on your resume and state, ‘Reference available upon request’.
Alternatively, if you are asked to include references on your resume or application, include former managers or people in position of responsibility. Provide their:
Stand out from the rest
Extra information can be included in your resume if they help reinforce your application. These are not necessary, but if applicable they may be useful to demonstrate your suitability to the role advertised. These include:
Writing a resume from scratch can be quite daunting so ASTAR Recruitment wanted to help you.
Use the tips from the resume writing tips section and apply them to the free templates below to write your best resume and stand out from the crowd.
What to leave out
At ASTAR Recruitment, we believe that it is just as important what you decide to leave out of your resume, as what you decide put in. Below is a list of things that should never be included in your resume.
A bad photo is never good
Adding a photo of yourself on your resume is entirely your choice, however when you decide which photo to add make sure it is good.
Never include a grainy image from your last holiday or from a night out. It will not leave a great impression on your prospective employer.
A current work number or email address
If you are sending out your resume to potential employers, ensure that you create a professional sounding email address.
Do not list your current company email address or your office number as it may create issues if anyone in your current workplace grasps that you are applying for a different job.
Never be negative
Your resume is a marketing document that demonstrates your skills in a positive way. That means, that you must stay positive.
Never mention anything in your resume that is unpleasant. Even if you had a difficult manager, you should never write their name down on your resume. In saying that, if you get further along the interview process and are shortlisted for the position, you can briefly explain to the interviewer why you will not be providing a reference for your last manager.
Leave out the unnecessary details
Irrelevant job experiences can be left out of your resume as it may distract from your more relevant recent employment history.
Your resume should market yourself and your experiences based on the job that you are applying for.
Attempt to be clear, concise and current.
Career objectives
Your career objective is generally indicated by the fact that you applied for the job, so it is unnecessary to include it in your resume.
In saying that however, you may wish to add a brief personal statement for the reader to give them a better idea of your interests, passions and goals for the future.
