Interview tips

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Interview Tips

Interview Tip 1: Plan Ahead - Do a little homework! Research the company and the position if
possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview. Review your work experiences.

Face to Face Interview Tips
Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the
companies needs. Have your facts ready!

Interview Tip 2: Role Play - Once you have finished studying, begin role playing (rehearsing). Use
the general questions provided below in the Interview Preparation Area. Write down answers if it
helps to make your presentation more concise. Try to keep your answers to the information your
new employer will want to know.

Interview Tip 3: Eye Contact - Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Show you want the job
with your interest.

Interview Tip 4: Be Positive - In particular, avoid negative comments about past employers.

Interview Tip 5: Adapt - Listen and adapt. Be sensitive to the style of the interviewer. Pay
attention to those details of dress, office furniture, and general decor which will afford helpful
clues to assist you in tailoring your presentation.

Interview Tip 6: Relate - Try to relate your answers to the interviewer and his or her company.
Focus on achievements relevant to the position.

Interview Tip 7: Encourage - Encourage the interviewer to share information about his or her
company. Demonstrate your interest. Some suggested questions to ask the interviewer are
provided in the "Questions You Could Consider Asking the Employer" section.

http://www.careercc.com/interv3.shtml

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Interview Dos

1) Arrive on time or a few minutes early

2) If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely. Don't attach your resume
unless you're told to do so

3) Greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. If not, ask the
employer to repeat it.

4) Project energy and enthusiasm. Smile and shake hands firmly.

5) Wait until you're offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, look alert and interested at all
times. Listen carefully and respond succinctly and articulately.

6) Look the hiring manager in the eye while speaking.

7) Early in the meeting, try to get the interviewer to describe the job and the duties to you so
you can focus your responses on your background, skills and accomplishments that
relate to the position.

Be sincere and truthful while focusing on communicating your specific professional
achievements that relate to the accounting or finance job opening.

9) Keep your answers brief and concise.
Unless asked to give more detail, limit your answers to two to three minutes per
question. Tape yourself and see how long it takes you to fully answer a question.

10) Include concrete, quantifiable data.
Interviewees tend to talk in generalities. Unfortunately, generalities often fail to convince
interviewers that the applicant has assets. Include measurable information and provide
details about specific accomplishments when discussing your strengths.

Face to Face Interview Tips
11) Repeat your key strengths three times.
It’s essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how
the strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they might benefit
the potential employer. If you repeat your strengths then they will be remembered and—if
supported with quantifiable accomplishments—they will more likely be believed.

12) Prepare five or more success stories.
In preparing for interviews, make a list of your skills and key assets. Then reflect on past
jobs and pick out one or two instances when you used those skills successfully.

13) Put yourself on their team.
Ally yourself with the prospective employer by using the employer’s name and products
or services. For example, “As a member of __________, I would carefully analyze the
__________ and __________.” Show that you are thinking like a member of the team
and will fit in with the existing environment. Be careful though not to say anything that
would offend or be taken negatively. Your research will help you in this area.

14) Image is often as important as content.
What you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say.
Studies have shown that 65 percent of the conveyed message is nonverbal; gestures,
physical appearance, and attire are highly influential during job interviews.

15) Ask questions.
The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous
impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you
plan how you would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out specific questions you
want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. Don’t ask about
benefits or salary. The interview process is a two-way street whereby you and the
interviewer assess each other to determine if there is an appropriate match.

16) Maintain a conversational flow.
By consciously maintaining a conversational flow—a dialogue instead of a
monologue—you will be perceived more positively. Use feedback questions at the end of
your answers and use body language and voice intonation to create a conversational
interchange between you and the interviewer.

17) Research the company, product lines and competitors.
Research will provide information to help you decide whether you’re interested in the
company and important data to refer to during the interview.

18) Keep an interview journal.
As soon as possible, write a brief summary of what happened. Note any follow-up action
you should take and put it in your calendar. Review your presentation. Keep a journal of
your attitude and the way you answered the questions. Did you ask questions to get the
information you needed? What might you do differently next time? Prepare and send a
brief, concise thank you letter. Restate your skills and stress what you can do for the
company.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080618183047AAEwiPZ

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Interview Don’ts

1) Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible.

2) If you don't understand a question – or need a moment to think about it - say so. Never
pretend to know something or someone when you don't.

3) Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. Interviewers will want
you to be convincing.

4) Don't make negative remarks about present or former employers. When explaining your
reasons for leaving, communicate your rationale professionally.

Face to Face Interview Tips

5) Don't over-answer questions. If the interviewer steers the conversation into controversial
– or even illegal – topics, try to do more listening than speaking. Keep your responses
non-committal.

6) Don't inquire about salary, vacations, benefits, bonuses or retirement on the initial
interview.

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Below are questions you may be asked in the interview

1. Tell me about yourself? (try to hold your response to 2 minutes)

2. What do you know about our company?

3. Why should we hire you?

4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

5. What do you look for in a job?

6. What skills and qualifications are essential for success in the position of ______?

7. How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution?

8. How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?

9. Describe your management style.

10. What do you believe is the most difficult part of being a supervisor of people?

11. Why are you looking for a new career?

12. How would your colleagues describe you?

13. How would your boss describe you?

14. How would you describe yourself?

15. What do you think of your present or past boss?

16. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment?

17. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far?

18. Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?

19. How much do you expect if we offer you this position?

20. Why do you want to work for us?

21. What other positions are you considering?

22. Have you kept up in your field with additional training?

23. What are your career goals?

24. What are your strong points?

25. What are your weak points?

26. How did you do in school?

27. What position do you expect to have in 2 to 5 years?

28. If you took the job what would you accomplish in the first year?

29. What was wrong with your current or last position?

30. What kind of hours are you used to working or would like to work?

31. Do you have your reference list with you? (Remember don't give it out unless it is
asked for).

32. Can you explain your salary history?

33. What questions didn't I ask that you expected?

34. Do you have any question for me?

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Below are questions you may want to ask the Interviewer

1. Why is this position open?

2. How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons?

3. What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position?

4. What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job?
Face to Face Interview Tips

5. What is most pressing? What would you like to have done in the next 3 months?

6. What are some of the long term objectives you would like to see completed?

7. What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this
position?

8. How do you think these could best be handled?

9. What type of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances?
Etc?

10. What freedom would I have in determining my own work objectives, deadlines,
and methods of measurement?

11. What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful
in this position, and within what time frame?

12. In what ways has this organization been most successful in terms of products
and services over the years?

13. What significant changes do you foresee in the near future?

14. How is one evaluated in this position?

15. What accounts for success within the company?

16. These questions are presented only as interviewing guidelines. They are meant
to help you prepare for the interview. Some questions may or may not be
appropriate for your interviewing situation.

17. By practicing your responses to some of these questions, hopefully you will not
be taken off guard if asked one of them. Most importantly, relax, go with the flow,
and before you know it, you'll be in your next job.