PREPARING FOR
THE INTERVIEW
Research, Prepare & Be on
Time!
Research Yourself
Be prepared to explain your
career goals, in general terms, both short and long term. Give the interviewer the sense
that you have a career path. Before you are too specific, make sure that the direction you
want to move toward is available at that company. Bottom line: You need to come across
directed, but make sure that the direction doesn't exclude the current position.
Explain any gaps between
employment. Interviewers will often ask about gaps in employment. If you worked in a
temporary or consulting capacity but didn't put it on your resume, have the details of
what companies you worked with, what you did for them and the approximate length of your
assignment. If you were working outside the accounting discipline, be careful about
bringing up any uncertainty regarding your intentions of staying in the accounting field.
If you didn't work but did search for a job, give some examples of the research you did
regarding job opportunities and the process you went through to find this position.
Employers want to see that you are interested in working for their organization.
Reasons for leaving each job.
Know why you left and be able to describe your reasons. If it was for a better
opportunity, explain how the new company's position was an opportunity. If you left
involuntarily, present the reason in the most positive light you can. Rehearse any answers
to make sure the response is genuine. Bottom line: Reasons must be positive!
Research
the Company
What you should know about a potential employer:
Size of the company, both number of
employees and revenue/sales volume.
Ownership.
History, including how long they
have been in business, sister and/or parent company names.
Product(s), general information and
basics about their major products.
Major competitors.
Industry trends.
Accounting department size.
Job description; understand the
skills required for the position.
Relationship between the open
position and other members of the staff; have a sense for the organization of the
department.
Personal history of interviewers;
if you know you have something in common, use it to build rapport.
Understand the critical skills,
"key" qualities of their ideal candidate.
Have 3-5 well-thought-out questions
that would help further your understanding of the company.
Does the company have a
webpage? Go check it out, it could be full of valuable information.
Is the company publicly
traded? Get your hands on their last few annual reports.
Do you know anyone who
works for this company? Get their insight into the corporate culture and philosophy.
Have they received press
coverage? Look at recent trade publications & business periodicals or newspapers. The
local public library or university library can be a great resource for this information.
For smaller
companies, call the city’s Chamber of Commerce
After you know all you can
about the company, make sure you know the specifics of the position you are interviewing
for.
How did you find out about
the position? Make sure you have reviewed all information from that source.
Do you know someone who
has worked for this company? What can they tell you about the position?
Do you know someone who
has held a similar position? What were their responsibilities?
Be sure you know where you
are going!
If the interview is
in-person, do you know where you are going? Make sure to get directions to employer’s
office. It is then a very good idea to get a map out and make sure you know the route. If
you are unsure about how to get to the interview it may be a good idea to drive the route
a day or two before.
If the interview is
over-the-phone, do you know where to reach the interviewer?
Be sure to have the phone
number and name of the interviewer. It is also a good idea to get the name and number of
the interviewer’s assistant in the event that you cannot make the interview.
What should
you have ready to bring with you?
Your
attention! The interviewer should receive 100% of your attention, this means put all other
worries and concerns out of you mind for the length of the interview.
Your
resume. Bring a clean, professional looking copy of your resume. It is a good idea to
bring more than one, you never know who else the interviewer may want to pass your resume
to.
Does
someone in your profession generally have a portfolio? If so, make sure you have one that
has received your time and attention. You don’t want to bring something that was put
together the night before.
Pen and
paper (generally in a presentable folder or portfolio). You may have to take notes
regarding the position, the other people you will have to interview with, the names of
people who were introduced in the course of the interview, etc.
Anything
else the interviewer indicated that he/she would want to see. Not being prepared is
tantamount to not being interested.
National
Executive Personnel
and Marketing Group, L.C.
12734 Kenwood Lane, Suite 73
Fort Myers, FL 33907-5638
(239) 931-0200 Voice
(239) 931-0204 Fax
Email: search@NationalExecutivePersonnel.com
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