The role your resume plays in Interview Prep.

• Resume
• Executive Resume

Congratulations you've been asked to attend an interview. You will be going up against similary qualified Perth people, so how are you going to stand out during the interview for all the right reasons?

So how do you prepare for an interview in Perth?

First of all I would recommend that you look at the job description and duties of the position you have applied for. Highlight all of the selection criteria, and all the repeated words and phrases. These are the first clues to understanding how to structure your answers.

The essential and desirable criteria and the job description provide you with invaluable insights into the type of language, examples and strengths to talk about in the interview. It is very important that you use the terminology that the organisation uses. You have to speak their language.

Go through your Resume or CV, cover letter and any answers to selection criteria you had to write. Decide what skills and strengths you have in each of the areas you identified as important. Ensure your strengths and examples match what the hiring organisation is looking for.

As you work out potential questions you may be asked, you can begin to weave these words and phrases into some of the answers you will need to prepare and practice speaking.

What style of interview will you be facing?

• Telephone: Typically first interviews are completed by the HR department or recruitment company to determine if you are someone the client will want to meet in person.
• Video: Prepare for these just as carefully as you would an in-person interview. They can also be used to screen out people based on looks regardless of the quality of the answers provided.
• Panel: Typically 2 or more people from various departments within the organisation. Each will have their preferred candidate.
• Task based: I've seen everything from being asked to write a press release to creating a full social media campaign at this stage. It can also occur before a formal interview, as a 2nd interview or a task during the interview itself. Be prepared.
• Second interviews: Just when you thought you had nailed the first interview, they tell you there will be a second for the shortlisted candidates.

Every Perth employer wants to know why they should hire you and not someone else. As an interview coach based in Perth I am constantly surprised by the number of people who had never thought to speak their answers out loud. They had "spoken" the words to themselves, but after trying to speak out loud, their answers were fractured and incomplete, not to mention full of errms and ah's. Practice is important. But knowing what to say is vital.

Your answer should highlight:

• Their keywords and phrases
• Your strengths and significant achievements - based on those keywords and phrases
• The results you achieved and how that can assist the interviewing organisation meet their goals and objectives

Your preparation today will ensure a successful outcome during the interview. You may still not get the job you understand, but at least you know you had a resume or CV that got you a seat at the interview table, your careful preparation surrounding the role, your skills and abilities and how they would apply to the new workplace was thought through and you didn't embarrass yourself with umms and ahhs because you had practiced, and practiced and practiced speaking your answers out loud. Were you perfect? Probably not, but you now have additional knowledge and skills you can take into the next interview.

• Resume
• Executive Resume