Nabbing a job when you’ve recently moved countries can be a competitive process, so you can never go wrong with taking as much help as possible leading up to an interview with a potential employer.
Job interviews in Australia are, for the most part, pretty similar to other countries’ interviews, but if you’re new to the country and want to stand out, these five pointers might give you a leg up on the competition.
Compliment The Company’s Evolution
Aussie companies love nothing more than to highlight how far they’ve come, so why not butter them up with some ego-stroking? You’ll want to be somewhat subtle about it (’I’ve noticed this company has really started to focus on sustainability in recent years’) but even if it is quite heavy handed, the recruiters will likely look upon you more favourably.
Offer Your Unique Vantage Point
If you’re applying for a job in another country, you have the rare advantage of bringing with you insights from an entirely different market that many Australian recruiters might not be aware of. So, casually mention similarities or differences between workplace culture and operations to drive home your wealth of knowledge and fresh perspective.
Mention The City’s Perks
You may or may not be aware, but Australians are oddly protective (and competitive) when it comes to their home cities. Melburnians will fight tooth and nail over the reputation of their coffee, Sydneysiders won’t stop talking about having the prettiest streets and Queenslanders will constantly remind you how close their cities are to the beach. So, say you’re going for a job interview in Melbourne, casually ask for recommendations about the best coffee in the area. It’ll show you have genuine interest in one of Melburnians’ favourite past-times, while also briefly distracting recruiters from the formal task at hand. Win-win.
Don’t Be Afraid To Hype Yourself Up
Yes, it may not be natural for a lot of us to be our very own cheerleader–and if you do it too fiercely it may cause some initial confusion–but Australian recruiters love confidence. Even if you don’t fully believe you’re made for the role, at least make the recruiters believe you are.
Maintain Eye Contact
This seems like more of a universal tip but it’s an easy one that can often be overlooked, so to speak. Making direct and consistent eye contact with recruiters will help build the illusion of confidence, too, so it’s all about faking it until you make it.
We love to fake it ‘til we make it.
Image: Urban List