5 Things You Must Do Before a Job Interview
Posted by Administrator on Apr 17, 2010
So you just found out that you have a job interview tomorrow and unfortunately procrastination is a weaknesses you haven’t yet conquered. Here are the down and dirty tips to pull it together at the last minute.
1. Look at the job posting you are applying for, and develop sound bites that address the needs of the employer. Think of examples where you demonstrated the skills that appear in the job posting and develop answers that clearly show an employer that you are the perfect candidate for this position. All sound bites should be 2-3 minutes in length.
2. Use the TODAY acronym to develop additional sound bites of your experiences. TODAY stands for Teamwork, Overcoming Obstacles, Duties of your past positions, Achievements, Your strengths and weaknesses. Remember to clearly describe exactly what you did in each situation. The employer is hiring you, not the other people in your story.
3. Research the company. Search the internet for any recent press releases and check out the company’s website. Know what they do, and develop some idea as to how the position you are hiring for fits within the company.
4. Think of questions to ask an interviewer. Look at the job posting and your research about the company and think of 3-5 questions you can ask during the interview. What are you curious about? Do they manufacture a product you are familiar with, or never even knew existed before you started to research the company? Where does this department fit in the grand scheme of the company? What projects is the department currently working on?
5. Lastly, prepare answers to the following questions: Tell me about yourself, Why did you leave your last position, or why are you looking for a new job, Why should I hire you, and The Salary Question. You know that these questions will be asked in one form or another, so there is no excuse to not have prepared an answer.
And that’s it. Interviewing is just that simple when it’s broken into it’s simplest components. Focus on preparing answers to all of the scenarios above, and you will be ahead of the game. Remember to clearly articulate in each and every sound bite exactly what you did. Practice with a tape recorder to critique yourself, or with a friend to repeat back to you exactly what you did in a situation to make sure you’re preparing correctly.
For more tips, use the link below to purchase the booklet “Successful Job Interviews Revealed.”, or attend the upcoming “Sweaty Palms and Awkward Answers” Continuing Education class in Stamford. And yes, I am always willing to try to fit in a last minute coaching appointment for interview emergencies.
© Red Inc. Melanie Szlucha
Career Objective
Posted by Administrator on Apr 10, 2010
In writing your accounting resume, you should be able to state your career objective first before you jot down other important facts. It’s a plus if you make it short but shows what you really aspire from the job you are applying for. Once you;re done with the objective, it’s now time for you to specify what other related facts you intend to highlight such as; writing down dates of your employment, when did you received your certification, trainings attended and career advancement/promotions. In accounting, numbers outweighs words but using descriptive action verbs in writing your resume will greatly help your reader to notice what an outstanding applicant you are.
What are the contents of an Accounting Resume?
Posted by Administrator on Mar 10, 2010
Accounting resume must contain relevant information’s such as: analysis experience, operations management skills and fiscal expertise. Moreover, you should also highlight the milestones you achieved like; organized accounting practices, managed debts and increased revenues (include the numbers if you may). Furthermore, don’t forget to include your career objective, also be brief and concise because you may want to elaborate on these things during the actual interview. Including other skills such as being computer literate adds more weight to your qualifications. Your resume should reflect all of these characteristics so that employers will easily spot the difference.
What’s the fuss about?
Posted by editor on Feb 10, 2010
by: Djai Tanji
What’s with all the interviewing? Why not just get on after the written exam? Because a job interview is the best way to prove yourself what the employer will get if you are hired. In job interviews, it’s practically showcasing your skills live. So being prepared is a must. You better get to know what you are there for, the company, the employer and yourself as a worker. During job interviews, you’ll be showing half of who you are when hired. It’s like training you for dealing with people you have to face in the course of the job. So you better who the interviewer the confidence and demeanour you possess.
Answers to Interview Questions – Good Answers to Popular Interview Questions
Posted by Administrator on Feb 6, 2010
Most people dread job interviews. However, with a bit of preparation, the experience can be very rewarding.
Most interviewers tend to ask similar questions during job interviews. All you need to do is find out what those questions are and prepare some answers beforehand. After you do that, have someone role play the part of the interviewer and ask you the questions. That way, you can practice your answers to interview questions so you can be more relaxed at the actual interview.
Some of the most popular interview questions asked during an initial interview are:
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
This is difficult for some people. If you are unsure of what to say, you might want to ask the interviewer what they would like to know about you. However, most interviewers want to know things about you that would be relate to the position. Try not to ramble on. Keep your interview answer short and informative.
2. What do you feel are some of your strengths?
When you begin to think about your strengths, think about some of the aspects of your personality and character that would be an asset to the job. Don’t just mention one, but focus on three or four. If you are applying for a sales position, you might mention that you enjoy helping people. If you are applying for an accounting position, you might say that you are very detail oriented.
3. What is your greatest weakness?
We all have weaknesses, so you will need to come up with something for an answer. Be as honest as possible, but then emphasize what you’ve done to overcome it. For instance, if delegating jobs has been hard for you in the past, mention what you have done to overcome the problem – perhaps taking a course in how to be an effective manager or a course in time management skills.
4. What do you consider to be your greatest success?
Choose an example from your past of which you are particularly proud. In your interview answer give specific details about what you did, how you did it, and what the results were.
5. How do you handle stressful situations?
List some stressful situations in past positions and explain how you handled them. Give them some ideas of some strategies that you have successfully used, such as making a to-do list.
6. Why do you want this position?
This is where researching the company will help in your answers to interview questions. Bring up some of the successful traits of the company and stress how you’ve always wanted to work for a company with those traits. Emphasize how your skills and qualifications mesh well with the company.
7. Why are you the best person for the job?
Here is your chance to sell yourself. Emphasize your strong points – i.e. you are a dedicated employee, a fast learner, an enthusiastic person who hits the ground running, etc. End it by saying; “I know that you will have no regrets when you hire me for the position.”
While no one knows exactly what questions will be asked during an interview, the above are common questions asked by most employers. With a bit of work, you can prepare yourself so that you can approach the interview with confidence and enthusiasm. That confidence and enthusiasm may just get you the job!
Tips For Your First Job Interview
Posted by Administrator on Feb 3, 2010
If you are about to leave school or college and are applying for your first job, the thought of your first job interview can be pretty scary.
Having a formal interview for a post which could launch you on your career is much more important than an interview for a casual student job such as working in a burger bar.
There will be a number of people shortlisted for the job and invited to interview. Every one of them has got past the first hurdle – they have produced a resume and cover letter or application form which proved they can do the job.
So you are competing against the best. If you want to get the job, you have to make sure that you stand out.
First of all, you must get the basics right. This means dressing appropriately for the interview. You’ll need to wear a business suit if you are going for a corporate job. In other industries, where dress code may be more casual, wear something a little smarter than you would expect to wear on the job.
Make sure you show up on time. You should work out the route in advance and time the journey. If possible, do a trial run at the same time of day as your interview. This will give you an idea of traffic conditions and help you find the building.
If you can’t do this, leave plenty of time on the day. It can be difficult to find some addresses, despite having a map. As if that’s not enough, you could find yourself faced with a company which is housed in several buildings with a complex network of connecting corridors. Arriving 5 minutes early is no good if it takes you 10 minutes to find the place you are meant to be.
Be sure to have the phone number handy so that you can let them know if something goes wrong on the journey, or an unavoidable crisis means you will be late.
Think about the type of questions you might be asked and come up with short intelligent answers. For a first job it’s likely you’ll be asked about your studies, why you have chosen this career or company. Make sure you know the answers.
It’s important to really think about your strengths and what you have to offer the company. What special contribution will you be able to make, which sets you apart from the other candidates?
Look at your work experience and find transferable skills – even if you have only worked as a waiter or waitress, you’ll have developed customer service and communication skills. Don’t forget about any clubs or societies you belonged to at college or any volunteering you were involved in.
Take a copy of your application to remind yourself of what you said and be sure you can explain any gaps in your resume. With the right preparation, you can ace that first interview.
Keys to a Successful Job Interview
Posted by Administrator on Jan 15, 2010
The purpose of this article is to cover the most frequent mistakes made by applicants. Although most of these points appear to be common sense, human resource professional often witness these pitfalls. For more information visit our resume and job interview training and services on one of the largest job sites in Canada, US and UK.
1. First, turn off your cell phone during an interview. A ringing cell phone won’t impress an interviewer. With today’s reliance on cell phones, in our experience about 1 in every 5 applicants forget to turn off their cell phones during an interview.
2. Reciting your resume and cover letter is also something that’s common, but should be avoided. The interview is your chance to expand on these documents and discuss your qualifications.
3. Mumbling is another common mistake that can often be corrected with ease. Some applicants mumble, are soft-spoken, or perhaps have a slight accent. Remember to speak up and speak clearly when you are in a job interview.
A useful exercise to refine interview skills is the use of role-play. Find someone who is willing to role-play some interview questions with you and ask them to provide feedback. For your convenience, we have a Mock Interview Exercise that simulates a real interview and contains grading tools to show ways to improve and reveal answering patterns. You can also enhance this exercise with the use of an audio/video recording tool.
4. Over answering is one of the most common and easily correctable mistakes. Over answering is also one of the biggest pet peeves among interviewer circles. Know when to stop. The interviewer’s body language can signal to the applicant when it is appropriate to stop answering. These signals include briefly looking away, leaning away from the applicant, and shifting their positions frequently during your answer. If you see one of these signs in your next interview, ask yourself: “have I answered the question?” and act accordingly. Try timing your answer to see the length of your response. On average most people take between 5 to 7 mins to answer which exceeds the attention span of most interviewers.
5. Avoid being negative. While your previous employer may have been a tyrant and difficult to work for, it is not to your advantage to speak negatively about past work experiences.
Accounting Jobs Worth Interviewing for
Posted by Administrator on Jan 10, 2010
The field of accounting is diverse and offers a lot of different positions where your skills can work to your advantage. Finding the right accounting position that suits you will help to better your chances during the actual interview. Some of the positions worth considering when thinking of a career in the field of accounting include:
- Accountant
- Accounting Assistant
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounting Manager
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Accounts Receivable Clerk
- FSA Actuary
- Auditor
- Billings
- Bookkeeper
- Collections (Collector)
- Staff Accountant
- Taxation Accountant
Knowing the associated responsibility with these positions will help you to fare well during the job interview.
Job Interviews – The Nightmare
Posted by Administrator on Jan 4, 2010
The night before the interview you diligently sit down and get ready. It might be the pay, the conditions or simply you hate your current role, but you are desperate for this new job.
Working through some of the advice on the internet you start practicing imagining the interviewer naked. This works for a while until you get the idea that they might do the same to you. Then your head is suddenly filled with thoughts of hundreds of people with better CVs, family connections or just being able to talk their way into the company. You read through your CV not taking anything in.
Your sleep is disturbed with dreams of turning up to the interview naked and forgetting everything on your CV. You sleep in and barely make it to the company on time. Out of breath, crumpled and flustered you wheeze your interviewer’s name at the receptionist. When she asks your name you go blank and you get the impression the receptionist thinks you are an idiot.
The wizened old hag that is your interviewer eventually comes to show you to the interview room. Every time she smiles you feel as if someone has died. In an attempt to build rapport you babble about traffic, the weather and strangely drift into the socio economic policies of Thailand. She looks confusedly at you and you let the subject drift.
You eventually make it to the interview room and the old crone offers you a coffee. After spending a few minutes wiping yourself down from the coffee you just spilt down your front the old crone asks if you are ready to start the interview proper. She then says something like, “Just as a nice gentle start, talk me through your CV.”
Realising you can’t remember anything on your CV and that you have not brought any spare copies you mutter things about how much you have enjoyed working for you last company. You are convinced she thinks the CV is a fake when you come to the conclusion that she said “gentle start” and that implies things are about to get worse.
The old crone decides to focus you in on some key areas by asking why you want to leave your current employment. You fumble around trying not to admit that you hate the company, the work and your boss and eventually hit on a “looking for fresh challenges” answer. Annoyingly she asks what sort of fresh challenges you think her company will give you.
Panicking for any answer you realise that she might be thinking of you as prey you try to calm your nerve by thinking of her as naked prey. But the only image you get is of you as naked prey. Now you have completely forgotten the question. The interview seem to go on for ever.
Just as you are losing the will to live the old cow informs you that this is your chance to ask questions as she has finished hers. Trying to appear still alive you ask her how soon will the company make a decision. Having answered your question she shows you out and you leave hoping beyond hope that they offer you the job.
Should you have experienced any of this, think about how different things could be. If only you could develop a persona of calm, focused authority, knew how to dramatically increase rapport and take control and could confidently answer any interview question naturally. How about the idea of being able to implant the idea of you being the best candidate for the role in to the interviewer’s head?
Sound impossible? May be not, many of these skills happen naturally and you have certainly seen others do this as part of their daily lives.
Some people just walk through life always getting what they want, including the best jobs. I am sure you have seen people like that. These are the people using these skills, sometimes naturally, sometimes they have been trained. In most situations these skills are quick and easy to learn.
Your CV will pull a lot more interviews if you just add some NLP and psychological techniques. Spending just a couple of hours CV Writing would pay you back dividends. Having the skill to be able to answer interview questions artfully only takes two hours to learn and you will keep that skill for life, as well as learn to apply it in many more situations.
Banishing interview nerves, building rapport, maintaining composure and taking control of the interview all seem like hard skills but they can be learnt in less than thirty minutes.The only question is how much people are prepared to devote to mastering these interview techniques because just a couple of hours is the difference between a great job and just the job you are doing now.
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