Prepare yourself for your next job interview

Attractive positions will always come with a great amount of competition. The higher an organisation is regarded in terms of culture and benefits, the higher the number of applicants. So once you manage to get past the gatekeepers and have the opportunity to land that job you’ve been looking for, what can you do to ensure you nail your interview?  Yingying, a skilled migrant from China explains how mock interviews and coaching have helped her to prepare and pass the interview process successfully. 

Reach out to professionals in the industry to help prepare for your interview.

In China, I had more than fifteen years’ experience of procurement, contracting, and project management in the construction industry and fabrication industries. I was an expert in contracts and procurement administration in both the public sector and private sectors. I had been looking for work for half a year and had difficulty obtaining a job with limited local experience. I was not confident at interviewing or building a resume to the expectations of the Australian market.

I reached out to Dress for Success Sydney to gain skills and confidence with my employment journey and I'm grateful for everything I’ve learned. After attending several career workshops, resume building sessions as well as mock interviews run by Robert Walters, I saw my abilities increase. I became more aware of what interviewers are looking for during interviews and how to highlight my skills and experience better.

Dress for Success and Robert Walters have helped me establish local experience and develop my future career.
 

Practice! Practice! Practice! 

With the guidance and help from Robert Walters, I managed to land a full time role as Contract Administrator in a construction trade company. I’d recommend job seekers to go prepared as it makes such difference. Do not underestimate the power of mock interviews and resumes building sessions as they are a good opportunity to practice and maximise the chances of getting the job you want. A good resume will get you in the door but a good interview can land you the job.

Interviewing can be like dance choreography, through practice, you get better, increase confidence and develop a certain muscle memory without being over rehearsed; all while learning the different aspects of the interview process and improving your interviewing skills.

A professional consultancy like Robert Walters can breakdown what you are doing well at and what you need to improve, from posture, body language and other key elements that make the difference in an interview,”  Yingying says.

Tips for final rehearsal before D-Day.

Doing well during your interview can help overcome insecurities. Part of your final rehearsal should include:

• Record yourself when practicing so you can adjust your energy level, tone of voice, posture, hands gestures and habits.
• Ensure you know relevant company information and understand their culture 
• Conduct your research on the interviewer
• Think of the specific questions you want to ask

A mock interview takes different interview scenarios and lets you role-play on how to act, present yourself and answer the interviewer's questions. A good interview coach will know what type of questions to ask to get you prepared for an actual job interview.

About Dress for Success 

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 150 cities in 27 countries and has helped nearly one million women work towards self-sufficiency. Dress for Success Sydney aim to help over 2,500 women in 2017. Dress for Success Sydney aim to help over 2,500 women in 2017.