Accounting Job Interviews Tips

Preparing for the Interview

Posted by Administrator on Dec 10, 2009

In preparing for a finance and accounting job interview, there are vital points to keep in mind and take into consideration. These points can be broken down into six important details:
1. Analyze the job posting – what do they really require
2. Know more about the company – the interviewer may ask you some details about the company
3. Assess your skills – know your strengths and project them
4. Prepare for possible questions – learn to anticipate what the recruiter may ask
5. Ask some questions from the recruiter – this establishes your interest in the position
6. Prepare your references and presentation – make sure your references are verifiable and most of all make a good first impression

Accounting Interview Tips

Posted by Administrator on Jun 10, 2009

Knowing what to do prior during and after the interview may actually decide whether you will get a job offer or a wave goodbye. Here are some tips to tilt the balance in your favor:

• Before the interview research about the firm. What are they known for?
• The Sales Department may be your best source of information
• Bring your stories (show how you handle work related problems)
• During the interview guide your responses
• Move the topic from your past to your future with the company
• Send a thank you letter right after the interview
• Follow up on the third day after the interview

The Interview Process

Posted by Administrator on May 10, 2009

The task of landing an interview can be quite daunting let alone going through it and actually getting a job offer. The interview is far from being a one step process rather; it is a series of processes which entails preparation both the physical and in the mental states prior, during and after the interview proper.

According to an accounting and finance placement firm, it is important that the applicant understand the distinction between confidence and cockiness and knowing what to bring and how to react after making a mistake. Everything will be about how you project yourself and the image you create to the interviewer.

The Interview Guide

Posted by Administrator on Apr 10, 2009

The next time you come in for a job interview whether it is an accounting position or any other, it pays to have a guide to follow and help you prepare. Here are some pointers to keep you on your toes:

• Learn how to convince the interviewer
• Know what questions to ask when you follow up
• What must you expect on a second interview
• Study how to handle interview jitters
• Turn down job offers correctly
• Discover how to effectively close a job interview

• Write thank you letters

• Think how you would handle behavioral or situational questions

Screen Call

Posted by Administrator on Mar 10, 2009

In the world of accounting, sometimes the job that you are given is an out of office responsibility. You may be asked to do accounting work for a client firm at their office or there may be times that transactions are done over the telephone or online. That is why it is also not a far fetched idea that there may also be instances wherein the accounting job interview will be initially done over the telephone.

This process is often referred to as the screen call. A screen call over the telephone may happen any time and often at the most uncomfortable time. If you have sent in that resume always be prepared for a screen call because it can decide how far you will go or how early your career will end.

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.

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.

Do�s and Don�ts

Posted by Administrator on Jun 3, 2008

So you have been invited by your chosen company to come for a job interview, will this be your big career move or are you going to throw it all down the drain? Here are some do�s and don�ts to guide you:

• DO come on early
• DO fill out forms completely
• DO pronounce the interviewers last name correctly
• DO show enthusiasm
• DO wait to be told to be seated
• DO listen carefully
• DO ask for a job description
• DO communicate sincerity

Here are some don�ts to remember:

• DON�T simply answer yes or no
• DON�T pretend to understand
• DON�T rely on your resume
• DON�T make negative comments
• DON�T over answer
• DON�T ask about salary and benefits during initial interview

Look Ready, Feel Ready

Posted by editor on May 19, 2008

by Chubs

Know Your Working Conditions

Posted by editor on May 16, 2008

by Chubs