Do you have an interview for a job as an accountant on the horizon?
Is today the day that you’re getting interview ready?
If so, you’re in luck! Alongside heaps of useful resources that you’ll find in our Candidates’ Hub, today we’re showcasing some of our best pieces of advice when it comes to standing out (for all the right reasons) at a job interview.
So, let’s get stuck in.
1. Do your homework!
If this role is seriously one that you’d like to win, then you absolutely must take the time to research the company and the people who are its leaders.
Flattery will get you far in life and if you can draw attention to some of the biggest achievements of the firm you’re interviewing for you’ll be remembered for all the right reasons. Find a few personal achievements from members of the interviewing panel and you’ll likely earn a few more brownie points! Keep it in check though – you don’t want to come across like a groupie!
And basic homework about the firm, its core values and aspirations is a must. You want to tie in every answer to every question to a solid understanding of where that firm aspires to be as that will showcase that you’re well aligned to the needs of the role you’re applying for.
2. Prep some case studies of your accomplishments and be ready to mould them to support your answers for a range of questions. Think about something you achieved and brainstorm all of the skills, qualities and personal attributes that that example showcases and weave the example in to any relevant questions.
Anyone can say that they are great communicators, brilliant relationship builders or excellent problem solvers, but why should the interviewing panel believe you? Paint the picture and let them see that you can do more than just talk the talk.
3. Be ready to tell the panel how you’d approach the role.
Let them see that you’ve really put some thought into the challenges that you’ll face as you learn a new way of working and focus on building relationships with new clients and colleagues.
If it’s a management level (or above) role that you’re interviewing for, be ready to make the panel understand how you’d approach garnering respect as a leader.
4. Don’t forget to pay attention to body language.
If your interviewing panel are seeing plenty of candidates, you need to make sure you don’t lose because your body language didn’t showcase enthusiasm for the role.
Sit up straight, make appropriate eye contact and take a moment to read our other pieces of advice for not falling foul of body language mishaps.
5. Come up with some unique questions to ask the panel.
Again, if your interviewers have done five back-to-back interviews and they’ve asked the same identikit questions from every applicant, think about one or two questions that will ensure you stand out from the crowd.
Perhaps ask them what they deem to be the biggest risks to the firms’ success in the next five years. Or maybe ask them what achievements they most hope to see from the successful applicant who wins the job.
6. Relax and leave space for some casual conversation.
Hopefully this will be led by the interviewers, but do try and ensure that a little bit of your personality comes across at interview. It’s critical that you showcase the right skillset and experience for the job, but don’t forget that the panel will want to know that you’ll get along with the rest of the team and that you’ll be a likeable colleague to work alongside.
7. End well.
Know when to wrap things up and be sure to reiterate how keen you are to win the role before you leave.
‘Interview pep talks are all part of the service we provide candidates at Public Practice Recruitment Ltd. So if we’ve lined up an interview with you and you want to talk it through, just pick up the phone. We’re your career cheerleaders and we want you to win every opportunity you’re presented with. That’s one of the many benefits of embarking on a career long partnership with us.’
Garry Howling, MD
To work with the best recruiter in the niche sector of public practice, reach out for our expert advice today.
