How to Nail A Job Interview and The Salary You Seek

You've finally got a response for your job application! Let’s hope it's a positive response with a smooth-sailing process and ultimately, this will be “the right one for you”. 

Going into a recruitment process is similar to going to dates. You will have to do your best to impress the other party so you will land your dream role. In this article, we’re going to share some useful, fool-proof interview tips. Check it out below! 

Mastering the “First Date” AKA the ​​Interview

The “first date” is always the most nerve-wracking, and with good reason! Because you’ll be meeting face to face with ‘the one’ for the very first time.

And that's the same feeling you’ll get, when going for a job interview. There will be butterflies in your stomach, especially for those of you who are applying for your first job! But not to worry – we’re here to give you 5 fail-proof tips on how to master any job interview, and be well prepared. 

1. Do your homework! 

Once you've been called in for an interview at a company, it's time to put all your energy and effort into finding out as much as you can about the company! You’ll need to fully understand the company’s business from an industry standpoint, your job scope for the position that you’ve applied for, as well as the working culture or legal standings of the company. 

Why is this crucial? Well, employers are always happy to meet a potential candidate who has done their ground work in getting to know the nature of business. On top of that, you will want to make sure that the company is trustworthy before you even start working with them, right? 

2. Hone in on career growth 

Once you’ve conducted your general research about the company, you can start to dig deeper into it and find out if there are any career growth opportunities and potential perks you can get there. Try to find out more information about the people who have been working there, what kind of projects they have been handling, and what are the company achievements and milestones. These discoveries will be very valuable for your career, especially when you finally get your job in the company. And doing so will also help you define your role even better! 

 3. Practice makes perfect! Rehearse and prepare for your interview session.  

Once you’ve got all the necessary information, you will need to start preparing all the talking points and questions to ask during your interview. Armed with these lists in hand, you can now start rehearsing them! Practice in front of the mirror, or role play with your friends to get constructive feedback. Better yet, use JobStreet’s Interview Practice Tool to help! 

4. Prep everything, down to the last detail 

Once you’ve prepped all the required material, it’s now down to your appearance and the more technical things. First of all, make sure you look presentable enough to make a lasting impression. Next, double check on the date and time of your interview, and reach there earlier. Try to reach half an hour earlier, so you can mentally prepare yourself. 

If your interview will be conducted online, be sure to check which online meeting application will be used and have it downloaded prior. Do a tech run to ensure that your camera and microphone is working properly, your background is suitable for an interview, and reduce any audio interference. Even though it's done online, you still need to dress properly. At least get your top half ready – so long as you remember not to stand up during your interview! 

5. Give good first impression through your words & body language 

Preparation is half the battle, the next half is the actual interview. Just relax and be confident - you've got this! 

Our top tip is to be calm and confident. Sit up straight, roll your shoulders back and be ready to show the best version of yourself. Just like a first date, this is an opportunity to set the tone for what could be a wonderful relationship. 

Convey all your answers confidently and as efficiently as possible. Don’t mumble and be clear in your speech. Don’t be afraid to ask more detailed questions, such as your job description and scope, workflows, or anything else regarding your future role in this company. This will help to show that you are a detail-oriented person. And don't forget to smile – Being approachable is key to being memorable. Last but not least, be sure to thank them for giving you the opportunity to meet with them! 

Then, wrap up your interview knowing that you’ve given it your very best. And don’t be too hard on yourself while you wait – if you are the right fit for the job opening and their team, they’ll be in touch. 

The Art of Salary Negotiation

So you've aced the “first date” AKA the interview and they've expressed interest, what's the next step? Salary negotiation of course! 

The company will make an offer with the salary figures - but before you accept it, you will have to carefully consider the amount. You want something that measures up to your worth, right? 

While this can seem scary, we’ve got some tips on how to negotiate salary: 

1. Make your salary request wisely 

In principle, you should know the salary range for your services to work at this company. But, how can you determine the range? 

There are two main determining factors at play: IDEALISTIC and REALISTIC. 

For the IDEALISTIC factor, you measure your salary request based on how long you’ve been working and how qualified you are in this position. This will be the ideal number you want to receive. 

When it comes to the REALISTIC factor, you basically need to measure your salary demand compared to the Regional Minimum Wage in the city the company is located in, as well as the salary market rate for the same position in other companies. To help you here, Use JobStreet’s Explore Salaries tool to check realistic salaries for the position you are applying for, down to the city and where the company operates. 

A combination of both these factors will help you determine your salary request! The trick is: don't mention exact numbers! Only state the minimum and maximum number range you expect. Stay humble and confident with your request. 

Just note that your salary expectations may be asked during your interview, so you might want to prepare this before your interview, too! 

2. Evaluate your price, then decide 

Companies will come to you with numbers matching their budget. If the number matches your request as well, that's good. But what if it doesn't match what you’ve requested? 

Here are the options you can take. You can either compromise and adjust your price with a slightly lower figure closer to the company’s offer, or you can stick to your guns and risk not getting the job offer. 

This decision is entirely yours to make! If you agree to the numbers and join this company, then CONGRATULATIONS! But if you haven't received an offer or you don't have a match because the numbers aren't right, that's okay. Trust that the company that you’ve been waiting for will eventually come! Ganbatte!