Graduate Accounting Jobs: Are You Ready for Your Interview?
- Posted in Accounting
- Comments 0
Applying for graduate jobs is a very interesting journey. Applicants, especially new graduates, go through a world of emotions. There is excitement and fear, hope and uncertainty. These feelings are normal to have. Yet, they are more than enough for a person to bottle up. Getting ready for the real word is indeed a tough task to take. However, having the right attitude and the will to prepare yourself, you will pull through.
Being called in for an interview, whether it is a telephone interview or in-person, is one of the first accomplishments of every fresh graduate. When a recruitment officer gets in touch with you and schedules an interview, that means that you have impressed him or her with your resume and cover letter. A job interview is your initial chance to make a solid first impression of yourself to your prospective employer. At the same time, it could also be an opportunity for you to have a look at the setup of the company that you could be working for. So, before you set out for interviews for the various graduate accounting jobs that you have applied for, it is best that you prepare yourself the most you can.
Predicting what a recruitment officer may ask during an interview is almost impossible. There are, however, some questions that are commonly asked during interviews that you can work on beforehand like “Can you tell me more about yourself?”, “What do you know about the company?”, “Why do you want to work here?”, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”, “Why should we hire you?” and more. It has been said that many successful applicants found answering these questions out loud and in front of the mirror very helpful.
Specific questions are, of course, inevitable. These questions are based on the information that they have learned from your resume and cover letter. Recruiters, in general, would want to learn more about your talents, skills and work attitude. They do this to find out if you possess the attibutes they feel would be best for the job. Do not worry if you do not have any work experience. What recruitment officers and employers usually want to see is if you have the potential to significantly contribute to the success of the company. Read and review your resume. Study such details as the job description, education, applicable work experience, seminars and so on that you have written down in your resume. Ideally, resumes should be short and direct to the point. When preparing for possible questions to be asked during an interview, try to expand the details in your resume, which could help you formulate your answers when speaking with your interviewer later on.
Accountancy jobs were once reputed as desk jobs that are boring. There have been so many changes that occurred in the corporate culture that some glamour and spice have been added to jobs in accounting. In fact, accountancy jobs now have various categories. Today, there are internal auditors, manageiral accountants and public accountants. Each of these categories has subcategories. Lately, there is a growing interest in a new accounting career that many graduates seem to show interest for: forensic accountancy. Forensic accountancy gives you the responsibility to investigate on accounts that are suspiscious or have discrepancies. Make sure to take into account the type of accounting job you are applying for as well as what the hiring company is looking for. That way, you can tailor your answers according to the job description.
Last, but equally important, dress accordingly. It may sound superficial, but it is always good to present yourself neatly during a job interview. Accounting firms are very conservative. Suits will never go wrong. Go for something simple with a neutral tone. However, there are some occasions that offices have a more casual setting. For these cases, it is best for you to match your interview getup to the prospective job. Put out an effort to find out how people in that specific accounting firm dress up for work. You may want to observe the people coming in for work before the date of your interview. Nonetheless, whether the accounting firm is casual or traditional, try your very best to look professional on the day of your interview. Dress up nicely and do not forget to wear your confidence with you.
It would help to set your own long term goals in your mind when preparing for an interview. Remember that accountancy is one of the best routes to become self-employment. Imagine being your own boss someday. It may be a long way to go for a fresh graduate such as yourself, but it sure is a possibility that you are free to entertain. With that good a motivation in mind, along with the education that you have earned and the preparation you have done, all there is for you to do now is to take the first step. Go forth and grab that accounting job that you have always dreamed of!
Related posts:
