Interviewing Techniques – Part 2
Where you have been able to get your CV to speak for you and you have been called for an interview, you then have to speak for yourself at the interview.
In the last blog, the first point mentioned was the issue of confidence and then using work related scenarios within your answers.
CONFIDENCE & PERSONALITY:
Make sure that you express confidence when answering your questions. Do not fidget or slouch into the seat and maintain eye contact. It is easy to pick up an individual’s confidence or lack of confidence at an interview, so coach yourself in being able to answer questions knowledgeably and confidently.
Add some nice and warm personality to the confidence. Try to give a nice smile when necessary or where you see the opportunity for that.
Remember accounts people are seen as boring, so try to show the potential employer that you are not that boring (ha! maybe just a little boring).
WORK RELATED SCENARIOS:
You want to constantly review scenarios and encounters you have experienced at work and develop standard answers for general questions which could be asked at interviews. For example, a question about your team playing skills, communication skills, ability to work under pressure, ability to apply initiative etc.
Team playing skills:
You can speak about how you currently work in a small team and you have had to multi-task and assist others with their duties in order to make sure we are all effectively meeting tight deadlines within the group. You may be responsible for sales invoices, but you also offer assistance in processing purchase invoices, so that the bank reconciliations and the
management reports can be completed on time for the board meeting. (Expand on this).
management reports can be completed on time for the board meeting. (Expand on this).
Think about scenarios and replay these scenarios again and again. Have them readily available in your head so that you can reach out to an applicable one for questions you are asked. As you don’t know the question you would be asked, have a few scenarios always ready.
These scenarios don’t always have to be accounts related, they don’t always have to be work related either, but it is best if most of them are accounts work related, as this will help you shine out your accounting skills.
The next best advice to offer you will be to sit in front of a mirror and practice using scenario based answers. Ask yourself simple questions and see how you answer and continue to practice to improve your confidence and ability to answer interview questions.
WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST from:
THE TRAINING PLACE OF EXCELLENCE