Be aware of your body language
Posted by editor on Feb 20, 2009
One the most important things to remember in your accounting interview is to watch your body language. Even something as seemingly small as fidgeting will sow that you are nervous, or worse, incapable of handling stress – which you will undoubtedly face in an accounting career. Appearing too eager – either by the way you act or by the way you answer the questions – makes employers think that you have no idea of your worth or are desperate for the job. Which is a bad impression to give during an interview. Don’t be too stiff, either, which might communicate that you are too stuck up, or too inflexible. Allow yourself to relax a little, and try to infuse more confidence into your actions and manner.
Keep your body language in check and maybe you might just land that accounting job you’ve always wanted.
Situational Questions
Posted by Administrator on Jan 30, 2009
Your interviewer would more or less be sure to present you with situational questions that will check for your accounting problem solving skills. If you happen to have little or no experience in a presented question, say so and the interviewer may present you with a different question. If not, answer best you can for if you know your job, as we said, accounting is a very technical field which typically has the same principles that vary with their application. Questions regarding your job experience would also bring out your weak points so give all answers as accurate as possible. Never and we do mean never guess, for the one interviewing you may also be an accountant. For procedural questions, they would challenge your mastery of your skills in preparing spreadsheets, balance sheets and other information sets where you base your analysis of the cash flow presented. Your results may be challenged for real on-paper testing which they can choose to give you to see if you have the necessary skills for information presentation and analysis.
Part-Time Gigs – Flexible Times
Posted by editor on Dec 25, 2008
In today’s recession when the number of jobs available is more than the number of applicants, jobs are getting harder and harder to come by. No wonder more people opt to work part-time jobs taking several in a day for more profits while keeping the ability to turn jobs when needed. Most take whatever is available yet accounting is a very skilled job that extensive knowledge of the system is needed for one to become effective and amiable for hiring.
Shifting from one dedicated job to part-time jobs also allows the freedom of better time management but being so time dependent, it is more suited for the young at heart. It also becomes a nice place to brush up or learn new things allowing you to get more for less time. It also has the advantage of eliminating the boredom that often accompanies desk jobs for you get to face different people. It can get hectic and time management is a must to balance your life, no use earning a ton of money when you don’t have time to enjoy your life.
What to look for in an Applicant
Posted by Administrator on Sep 29, 2008
Image Source: talentpen.com
Interviewing applicants are very difficult. Most especially when you’re looking for accountants. These are job positions that require precision and wisdom. Practical wisdom, that is. Some tips for the interviewer might help you narrow down the potential employee to a numbered few.
What you should look for in an applicant:
- Integrity… If an applicant shares unsolicited private information about a competitor they have worked for, you can be sure he’s going to do the same to you.
- Detail Oriented… Accountants need to be accurate. If you can particularly tell that a person seems disorganized during his interview, that’s a good sign he may be wrong person for the job.
- Knows how to Damage Control… Problems come and go on a daily basis in any business or job. You want a somebody thinks well, fast and solves problems rather than rant about it.
- Positive Outlook… People who thinks positive almost always come up with the best solutions.
The Accountants Job
Posted by Administrator on Aug 18, 2008
Image source: www.targetedsearch.net
In many public firms, accountants become increasingly responsible for management of other accountants and acquiring new accounts instead of pure accounting work.
Since all of these tasks require a high degree of teamwork, leadership and charisma, the accounting job interview will seek to uncover these attributes in addition to technical accounting skills. For that reason, someone preparing for an accounting job interview needs to spend a little bit of time working on their response to questions outside the realm of accounting. Their first step should be to do some research and discover exactly what the accounting job they are pursuing will consist of, in the short and long term. This research may be done with a combination of published and personal investigation and should uncover four elements; the daily duties, the desired results of the job, the personal characteristics the company desires; and the future career paths available to the position.
Know Your Working Conditions
Posted by editor on May 16, 2008
by Chubs
When you’re in a job interview, normally what happens is that you, as an applicant, just answer whatever the interviewer asks you. Recall that what makes an interview successful is your ability to create an atmosphere of interactivity, meaning try to ask questions yourself. More often than not, your interviewer will appreciate your capacity to come up with questions about the position and will definitely consider this as a plus point in your application. Now, don’t stress yourself too much in thinking about smart questions to ask. Start with the nature of the position which includes duties and working conditions. Knowing the work conditions of the position you’re applying for will also help you to evaluate the company’s offer. Most accounting and auditing jobs are office-based and may sometimes require you to travel to offer your service to other branches and firms of the company. Also inquire about your work hours and schedule since these information will be integral to how you will weigh your decision to accept the position.
Entry-level Accounting Job Interview Tips: The Four Main Fields of Accounting
Posted by editor on May 12, 2008
by Chubs
Just like any job applicant, the job offer (which includes the nature of your work, the compensation and benefits, etc.) is the single most important thing you want to know immediately in an interview and asking about the job description (JD) will help you assess the offer your interviewer is willing giving you. The JD indicates specific job duties required for accountants and auditors and these can be classified into four main fields of accounting:
a) Public accounting – You are needed to provide accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services for clients such as corporations, individuals, government, or nonprofit organizations.
b) Management accounting – You are expected to keep record and analyze the financial data of the company you will be working for.
c) Government accounting – You will be keeping and examining the records of the activities, which are subject to government regulations and taxation, of government agencies, private businesses and individuals.
d) Internal auditing – You are required to check the accuracy of the company’s internal records and screen for waste, fraud or mismanagement.
Entry-level Accounting Job Interview Tips: Knowing the Nature of your Work
Posted by editor on May 9, 2008
by Chubs
In a job interview, it is essential to have a basic knowledge of the nature of the work you are expected to perform for the company. This will give you the confidence to ask more questions regarding the position so that you can evaluate the employer’s job offer better. Accountants and auditors are normally expected to help maintain the efficiency of the company’s operations, to ensure the accuracy of its public records, and, more importantly, to foresee proper and on-time payment of taxes. These important functions are grounded in a variety of accounting and business services which accountants and auditors offer to their clients (such as public, management and government accounting, and internal auditing). Aside from handling financial documents, accountants and auditors are now also expected to venture in other related services like budget analysis, information technology consulting, financial and investment planning, and other legal services.
Entry-level Accounting Job Interview Tips: Knowing if You’re Right for the Job
Posted by editor on May 5, 2008
by Chubs
The first thing that a job applicant will look for in a job vacancy is the information telling them whether or not they’re suited for the job. Knowing whether or not you’re qualified for the job will help lessen the anxieties and, in turn, boost your confidence for that much anticipated first job interview. Most entry-level accounting jobs require a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field for applicants and any professional recognition achieved through certification, licensure or from further studies are also considered as definite advantages. Special expertise and proficiency in accounting and auditing using computer software can increase your chances of getting better offers from your potential employer. Overall, knowing your qualifications and showing your interviewer that you are the perfect candidate for the position will certainly help you in securing your first accounting job.