Tips for a Great Interview

Preparation is essential to remaining calm under pressure and is the first step toward a successful interview. Here are some tips:

• Give yourself plenty of time to get there.
• Ask about parking availability before you go.
• Know the exact place and time of the meeting, the interviewer's full name (including correct pronunciation) and his or her title.
• Research the company through the Internet or the library to learn relevant facts such as annual sales revenue, principal lines of business and locations.  Prepare to ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the company and position.
• Look your professional best. Wear business attire in neutral colors and be conservative in your use of fragrance, cosmetics and jewelry.
• Organize the night before. Your interview clothing, briefcase and portfolio should all be prepared. Get a good night's rest.
• Re-read your resume before the interview.  Ask yourself questions about every item on the list and be prepared with concrete examples for each experience. 
• Arrive poised and confident. Bring several copies of your resume and a list of references. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and an enthusiastic smile.

Some questions to prepare for:

• What other experiences, aside from your education, have prepared you for this position?
• How are you a team-player?
• What is your perfect-world job?
• How do you define success?
• Why did you choose to become a CPA?
• How do you handle conflict?

Interview Dos

• Arrive a few minutes early.
• If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely. Don't attach your resume unless you're told to do so.
• Greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. If not, ask the employer to repeat it.
• Project energy and enthusiasm.  Smile and shake hands firmly.
• Wait until you're offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, on the edge of your seat, look alert and interested at all times.
• Listen carefully and respond succinctly and articulately.  Look your interviewer in the eye while speaking.
• 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.
• Follow up the interview with a thank-you note to the interviewer. 

Interview Don'ts

• Avoid accepting offers of food or drink.  If the interview takes place over a meal - order smart and clean.
• Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible.
• Don’t pretend to know something or someone if you don’t. If you don't understand a question - or need a moment to think about it - say so.  
• Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. Interviewers will want you to be convincing.
• Don't make negative remarks about present or former employers. When explaining your reasons for leaving, communicate your rationale professionally.
• 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.
• Don't inquire about salary, vacations, benefits, bonuses or retirement on the initial interview unless you are sure the employer is interested in hiring you. If the interviewer asks what salary you want, give a range based on your research of the job market, but indicate that you're more interested in the opportunity for continued learning and professional development than in a specific salary.

Adapted from Robert Half International