Top tips for your accounting and finance interview

Preparing for a job interview can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re trying to secure your first job in the accounting and finance industry. After weeks of submitting resumes, and attempting to stand out from other candidates, landing an interview is an accomplishment.
Now that you are one step closer to starting your dream career, preparation is essential to presenting yourself as a confident candidate who knows their value. Here are some tips on how to prepare for an important interview.

Research the company

It’s important to have strong knowledge about the job and company that you’re going for. Why have you applied for this organisation? Why do you want this job? These are the questions that you need to answer, for both yourself and potential employers.

Researching the company will be the key to understanding how it operates and fits into the market. It will prepare you for common interview questions while giving you a deeper understanding into the organisation’s goals, values, and culture. By diving into the industry as a whole, you’ll also gain insight into market trends, competitors, and potential challenges that the company may face in the future. Therefore, getting a grasp of the bigger picture will help you stand out, showing that you have a genuine interest in the business’ success. So, take your time and do your research.

Prepare to answer the common questions

There’s nothing worse than tripping over a common question in an interview. Mastering your answers to common questions will show that you’ve achieved the bare minimum of preparation, so it’s important to know what to answer while staying authentic.

Questions may include, “What makes you qualified for this role?” or “What do you know about accounting?” But don’t worry, with a bit of practice, you can confidently tackle these questions and impress your interviewers.

After researching the company, you can aim to tailor your answers to match specific job requirements. You should also aim to practice answering these questions out loud so that you know how your answers will sound to an interviewer. However, our best advice is to answer these questions for yourself. You need to understand why you want the job, and then your answers will be much more authentic rather than to tick a box on an interview sheet.

Have a list of questions ready to answer

Aside from common questions, you may also need to answer company, or job role, specific questions. For example, “What challenges do you believe the team will face?” or “What are the primary goals for this position?”

To prepare for this, think of examples that can backup your answer. Draw upon your own experience and how you tackled any challenges. This will show that you’re prepared but also interested in the potential position. Your critical thinking skills will be showcased through your answers as you’ll need to ask yourself thoughtful questions to provide a strong answer.

Organise your portfolio

This won’t be necessary for every role that you go for, especially if you lack experience. However, if possible, aim to organise your portfolio to showcase your skills and qualifications in the field of accounting.

The best way to do this is highlight any previous experience you may have, and emphasise the skills and knowledge gained from this. Again, do the same for your qualifications, certifications, or special training you have received. You need to be your own biggest fan and believe in your potential to show that an employer would be wrong not to hire you.

First impressions

First impressions are everything in an interview. So, you’ll need to start off by dressing appropriately. The common phrase comes to mind, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

Ensure that you wear something neat, clean, and professional. Even if the company has a casual dress code, it’s always better to dress smartly. This will show that you are taking the interview seriously while showing respect for the company and interviewer. Plus, when you look good, you feel good, which will boost your confidence and allow you to perform better in the interview. Remember that you want to be remembered for your answers, and not for wearing something unprofessional.

Be yourself

While first impressions are extremely significant, it’s also important to remain authentic. Don’t be unprofessional, but still aim to show your personality through your answers. This can be done through jokes, or even just the small talk when you first meet the interviewer.

View the interview as a conversation, and not just answering questions. This will help you become more relaxed and stay true to your authentic self. If they don’t like you for you, then it’s highly likely that the role wasn’t made for you anyway.

Ready to start your career?

To get those all-important interview experiences, you’ll need to have the knowledge behind you so that you can demonstrate and develop that you’re worth hiring. Browse through our AAT, ACCA, and CIMA courses and start your accounting and finance journey today. All of our subscriptions include personalised career advice.