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PRACTICE AND PREPARATION WILL HELP YOU TO PASS THE JOB INTERVIEW
IF job interviews make your palms sweat and your heart beat through your throat, you are not alone – but the good news is that it gets better.
A survey by employment marketplace SEEK reveals interview anxiety is most common among young Australians but gradually lessens with age and experience.
While 89 per cent of jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 years report getting anxious, it drops to 72 per cent for those aged 25 to 34, to 63 per cent for 35 to 44-yearolds, and about 55 per cent for jobseekers aged 45-plus.
SEEK’s resident psychologist Sabina Read says jobseekers can minimise anxiety by being organised in the lead-up to the interview.
“Reducing external pressures like what you are going to wear and how you get to the interview are going to go a long way in alleviating additional stress,” she says.
“Feeling prepared will also help reduce those nerves so practice interview questions, research the company and familiarise yourself with all aspects of the role.”
On the day, Read recommends jobseekers use up any nervous energy and help themselves refocus by going for a run or meditating or doing something they enjoy before the interview.
“If you start to feel nervous during the interview: stop, take a deep breath, it will help,” she says.
“While you may have your heart set on this particular role, some perspective can help manage soaring anxiety – if the job isn’t offered to you, there will always be other opportunities and your network will likely have broadened as a result.”
The research also finds women (73 per cent) are more likely to feel job interview anxiety than men (61 per cent) and that 43 per cent of Australians get more nervous during an in-person interview than an interview online.
Almost half (45 per cent) of Australians believe they need to do “a lot more” preparation if they are being interviewed in person.
Recruitment agency Hays’ Interview Guide recommends preparation for any interview should include researching the industry (recent developments, trends, changes), company (its history, products/services, values, purpose, customers, culture), the hiring manager (who they are, their role, expertise, past experience) and the role (what it involves, previous work the team has completed).
It should also include the jobseeker practising how they introduce themselves in a way that sums up their education and professional background, their relevant skills and experience, and what they are looking for in the role.
They can also plan questions to ask the interviewer and prepare answers to common questions they may face.
For example, if asked, “Why are you looking to leave your current job?”, they should craft a response that focuses on the opportunities in the position they applied for rather than on what they dislike about their current role or organisation.
If asked, “Why should I hire you?”, they should think about the benefits they can bring the company and identify three skills to back that up, including technical skills mentioned in the job description and soft skills such as adaptability.
The aim is to not let the interviewer become disengaged with overly long responses.
RACE 5 – BENCHMARK 58 (1100M)
Real Hussey was a convincing winner this track and distance on debut. He resumes here on the back of a solid trial. Tramonto is also having a first-up run here and was only narrowly beaten over 1200m when resuming last preparation. Vaporizing landed the prize this track and distance three starts back and should be very competitive here. Master Red is facing a much easier assignment than his second-up run at Doomben and can get into the money.
SELECTIONS: 4 Real Hussey, 2 Tramonto, 3 Vaporizing, 6 Master Red
RACE 6 – MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
Eloquently motored home from last in her second race start over 1200m and is likely to show some improvement here. Loveisabattlefield was also doing her best work late when she finally had clear running on debut at the Sunny Coast. Vivyn is on debut here and a win would not surprise after an easy trial victory. Sienna’s Award cannot be discounted on the strength of her third-placed effort here at the Gold Cost two starts back.
SELECTIONS: 8 Eloquently, 9 Loveisabattlefield, 13 Vivyn, 11 Sienna’s Award
RACE 7 – CLASS 5 HCP (1100m)
Sophiella is resuming here and was competitive in town at the end of last preparation. She gets in well at the set weights and also takes a claim. Initialize ran second at big odds when resuming at the Sunshine Coast and should be competitive here again. Exactamente is first-up here and showed plenty of early speed in a convincing recent trial win. Defence Missile is on the quick back-up and should find this easier than his last assignment.
SELECTIONS: 7 Sophiella, 6 Initialize, 2 Exactamente, 1 Defence Missile
RACE 8 – CLASS 2 HCP (1400m)
Split Not A Shock was not beaten far at her first Queensland run at Toowoomba and should take plenty of beating. Fortified kicks off his second campaign here following a strong win on debut at the Gold Coast when heavily-backed. Racketeering was only beaten a couple of lengths when resuming at Doomben and the extra distance will be in his favour. Mirror Model has had a change of stables and could sneak a place from the ideal draw.
SELECTIONS: 2 Split Not A Shock, 3 Fortified, 1 Racketeering, 13 Mirror Model