1. Show up early, but not too early
- Believe it or not, you can arrive too early to an interview. If you show up too early to an interview this can pressure your interviewer to be ready for your meeting sooner than they were prepared for. Often, interviewers are on a tight schedule and this can throw off their day. Give yourself enough time to get to your interview location between 5-10 minutes early.
- When interviewing with a CPA firm for a professional position, it’s almost always appropriate to wear a suit (and tie for men).
- On the company – You should know the background of the firm, services offered and any specialties they have.
- On the industry – Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in the accounting industry prior to your interview.
- On the interviewer – If you know your interviewer, take some time to research them as well. (We recommend looking on LinkedIn to better understand their position in the firm, community involvement, etc.)
- There are a slew of websites out there that provide examples of interview questions. Pull one or two of these lists and have an idea of how you would answer the questions.
- A confident handshake says a lot about a person. However, be sure that that you’re not squeezing too hard – especially if you’re interviewing with a woman.
- A friendly smile can help set the tone for a friendly interview. This will also let your interviewer know how you will greet your clients in the future.
- While you may be shaking on the inside, try to appear as relaxed as possible during the interview. Be careful not to cross the line of over familiarity, however.
- Often, body language speaks louder than words. If you’re saying “Yes, I’m really interested in working for your firm,” but you’re slouching in your chair, what you’re really saying is, “I find you and your firm very boring.” You want to sit up straight, keep your arms uncrossed and maintain good eye contact.
- You’ve come to interview, now it’s time to focus on that interview. Put your phone away and on silent. Better yet, don’t bring your phone inside with you. Don’t bring anything with you but your portfolio, extra copies of your resume, references, and your list of questions.
- Do not interrupt the interviewer while they are asking a question. Your turn will come. Also, make sure you understand the question fully before answering. Don’t ramble along hoping that you’ll say the right thing. Ask the interviewer to clarify the question if you’re unsure what they’re asking.
- All too often candidates will ask questions that they think they should ask instead of the ones they really want the answer too. Have a list of questions prepared prior to the meeting (or jot down questions throughout the meeting) to ask at the end of the interview. Beware of irrelevant or inappropriate questions regarding, salary, paid time off, benefits or attractive co-workers.
- You will want to know what the next step in the interview process is so you know whether you will need to contact the interviewer again.
- It has become a common courtesy to send your interviewer(s) a “Thank You” note after your interview. This doesn’t have to be lengthy or anything special – in fact, it’s better if it isn’t – just a simple note will do.
Cori handles all matters related to human resources including recruiting, on-boarding, benefit enrollment, performance/salary reviews, policy implementation, and MORE for Bergan Paulsen. For Cori, the highlight of her role is the opportunity to help individuals grow into the professional they want to be. Read more about Cori on our website.
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