Interview Tips for Accountants

GENERAL TIPS

  • Know the time and place of the interview and the interviewer’s full name and title.
  • Ensure that you fully understand the job description of the position for which you are interviewing.
  • Plan to be 15 minutes early in anticipation of traffic problems or other unanticipated delays. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
  • Dress professionally
  • If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely.
  • Ensure to shake the interviewer’s hand firmly.
  • Speak slowly and clearly. Don’t rush your answers.
  • Stress accomplishments.
  • Ensure to answer every question fully and honestly.
  • Don’t jump ahead or give more information than is required. Pay attention to “cutoff” cues.
  • Ensure you are consistent in your answers throughout all interviews.
  • Don’t answer with a simple “yes” or “no”. Explain answers where possible.
  • Ask questions to show interest in the Company and the position.
  • Ensure they know you are interested in the position
  • Look alert and interested at all times and look the interviewer in the eye.
  • Relax, smile and have a positive attitude. Give the appearance of energy as you walk.

WHAT TO PREPARE BEFOREHAND

  • Chronological Outline of Career and Education
  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Questions to Ask—It is important to ask a lot of questions both throughout the interview and at the end of the interview when interviewers generally ask if you have any questions. Therefore, you should prepare a list of 5-10 technical and 5-10 non-technical questions and memorize them before the interview. Do not inquire about salary, vacation, bonuses, or other benefits.

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREAPRED FOR

  • What do you know about our company?
  • Why do you want to work here?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What do like most and least about your current position (or supervisor)?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • What are the best and worst things your boss would say about you?
  • Name 5 adjectives that would best describe yourself.
  • What are your concerns in your current situation and what would you improve?
  • How have you changed or improved the nature of your job?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What can you do for us that someone else can’t?
  • What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former positions to justify your salary level there?
  • What do you think determines a person’s progress in a good company?

NEGATIVE FACTORS EVALUATED BY AN INTERVIEWER

  1. Poor personal appearance.
  2. Lack of a firm handshake.
  3. Being unprepared for the interview, ie. little or no knowledge of the company.
  4. Poor expression of thoughts, including incorrect grammar.
  5. Not asking questions about the job.
  6. “Superiority complexes” and “know it all” attitudes.
  7. Indifference or lack of enthusiasm.
  8. Being evasive, nervous and lacking in confidence.
  9. Lack of career direction - undefined goals or purposes.
  10. Candidate is too interested in compensation factors.
  11. Overaggressive, overbearing or conceited behaviour.
  12. Speaking unfavourably of previous employers.
  13. Lack of courtesy and maturity.
  14. No appreciation for the value of experience.
  15. Not looking the interviewer in the eye.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

You should find out as much information on the Company and the interviewers as you can.

CLOSING THE INTERVIEW!

If you are interested in the position, ask for it or ask for the next interview if the situation demands. You might say something like: “Mr./Ms. Employer, I am very impressed with what I’ve seen and heard here today and am confident that I could do an excellent job in the position you’ve described to me. When might you be in a position to make an offer?” Your enthusiasm should make a favorable impression.

If you are made an offer, accept it only if you are ready. You don’t have to accept the offer on the spot.

Don’t be discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with us first or interview more applicants before making a decision.

Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration of you. If you have answered the two major questions in his mind: a) Why are you interested in the company?; and b) What can you offer?, you have done all you can.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

The first thing you should do after the interview is call us to let us know how the interview went and whether you are still interested in the position. At the same time, we will be determining the client feedback. The next thing you should do is send a thank you letter to your interviewer (s).

 

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