When it comes to finding the right job… perfecting your CV is only half the battle.

Going for your first interview can be daunting but the more preparation you do the less nervous you will feel on the day. We’ve pulled a few interview tips for when you go for an interview in accountancy.

• Find your WHY?

Knowing why you want to work in accountancy is one of the most common questions asked when in an interview.

‘Why do you want to become a CA?’

Figure out why it appeals to you – why are you interested in Audit or Tax? Your reasons may be because you want the study support and supportive team, or you may want to travel around the UK. Of course, most accountants choose this career because they like numbers, but employers really want to know who YOU as a person are.

• Do Your Research…

This is so important! You need to know about the company and be able to demonstrate that you have done your homework.

Some facts to find:

• What do you know about the company? (CEO / recent media articles / history / what they specialise in)
• Consider your strengths and capabilities (technical ability / communication / problem solving / ability to adapt and learn)
• Not everyone is perfect, and we all have our weaknesses – think about these but try to turn negative points into positives (e.g. ability to delegate work as too work proud)
• Any questions?

At the end of the Interview you will have the opportunity to ask any questions, you should ideally prepare at least 2 questions for this part.  By not asking questions you could give the impression that you are not interested in the role or organisation and that you have not been paying attention in the Interview.

We recommend that you are armed with six or seven questions prior to the interview as it is likely that some of these questions will be addressed during the interview.

Here are some suggestions questions that you might want to consider asking:

• If I was successful in securing this role, what would my priorities be for the first 3-6 months?

• What is the company’s goals and visions over the next 3-5 years?
• What would I have to do to exceed expectations in my first 3-6 months?
• What is the best thing about working for this organisation?
• What would you consider as my biggest challenge if I secured this position?
• Who is your biggest competitor and what sets you aside from them?
• What is the team structure and culture like?

Carla Heron, iMultiply Resourcing