[Keely]

I have an interview with a 75 person firm in a week and a half. I didn’t think they were hiring, but I sent a resume in anyway for an entry-level staff accountant position. They got back to me, which is great, but now I’m freaking out. I’ve never interviewed before. I just graduated college last year and my work experience, while it might look good on a resume, is really not all that impressive and it was part-time for our family business. Basically, I’m going to have a hard time coming up with what to say about my time there.

Obviously, they are aware I have no public accounting experience. Can anyone give me advice, insight as to what questions I might get asked, and any good questions to ask them? I am so nervous already. Thanks!!!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[mgoloubenko]

Smaller sized firms are really looking for people who will grow within their company and are much more focused on employee retention than the Big 4 firms are. So essentially they're looking for employees who appear to want to stay with the firm. Whether or not you actually want to is not something you have to disclose. You'll want to talk about your goals in accounting, what you've been doing to achieve them (discuss your CPA progress). Basically, give them a timeline of how you see the next few years in accounting going for you. Also really highlight the fact that you want to learn about all the different parts of accounting since employees of such firms don't have really one set position but instead gain exposure to a variety of departments, clients, etc.

FAR 4/9/12- PASSED
BEC 7/13/12- PASSED
AUD 8/16/12- Ughhh 71, Rematch: 90!!!
REG-12/6/12 PASSED

USC MAcc- Fight on!

They say good things come to those who wait, but only those things that are left by those who hustle.

[Anonymous]

I have never been in an interview where they didn't ask about your strengths and weaknesses. Make sure you have answers to those two. I've had interviewers ask everything from “Tell me about your current employer's management style” to “How do you deal with difficult people?”. Just remember, stay calm, they can't take your birthday away if you don't do well, dress appropriately, (I'm sure you already knew this one), and portray confidence in yourself. That's all I've got but it's been a long time since I had to interview for a job. Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

@mgoloubenko – Damn good advice!

[Kim4]

corporette.com is a great place to go to look around for how women can dress professionally.

Keep in mind that it is mostly big law and therefore more conservative than necessary. I've seen discussions there about if your earrings can dip below your earlobe or not — that's not really an issue at my firm at all.

Blazers are always good for a woman to dress up an outfit, it's a good investment for you.

I'm assuming from your name that you are female, if I'm wrong, then I apologize.

FAR -- 90
AUD -- 95
BEC -- 82
REG -- 92

DONE!

[Mayo]

1. Know yourself really well

-why accounting

-why this firm

-why this position

2. Know the firm well

-what's their business

-I'd try and draw comparisons to working at a small business and the skills you learned with a small firm (i.e. you're well rounded)

-try and learn their history

-learn a little bit about the industry and where it's headed

3. Know the common behavioral questions

-strengths/weaknesses

-tell me about a time..etc.

-google some questions and practice them, but don't memorize them. Can't stress this enough. You learn a lot about yourself by just going through these questions

4. Relax

-be yourself and be professional

-practice, practice, practice, so you don't feel too nervous come interview date

5. Remember the little things

-good posture but not robotic or fidgeting

-sound confident but not cocky

-write a thank you letter****

-bring an extra copy of your resume

Remember, you got the interview because your qualifications are good enough n paper. Now it's all about wrapping and presentation.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[FindaJob]

I know this will not help : but my first interview ever was with a partner and 2 managers in an ERS team in Deloitte.

needless to say … I Messed up ! I didnt prepare myself !

I'm just trying to tell you … you can really waste AMAZING opportunities if you dont work EXTREMELY hard to prepare! I mean if u do and it doesn't work out thats cool … because u at least tried …

Be yourself … firm handshake … and show them your self confidence.

tell me about yourself will probably the first question 🙂 … why your school could come up

two to go !

[Anonymous]

All good advice above. The one thing I would add is to practice as much as possible. Do mock interviews if you can. Look up common questions online and practice (out loud) responding to them. Be able to thoroughly discuss everything on your resume.

[Whatdidyou]

^I agree! It is all about practice. I didn't get half way decent at interviewing until my second recruiting season.

If you still have accces to a career center – go ask them for help – do mock interviews.

Print out a list of standard behavioral interview questions (you will likely be asked a mix of questions – most behavioral type quesstions which can be ffound online + resume/cover letter specific questions, & follow up/response questions).

Have a friend/relative/supporter sit in a room with you and do a mock interview with you over and over and over again. You'd be suprised how easy it was for me to mess up when I was in the “interview format” even when I knew the questions beforehand. THIS is the best practice.

“I just graduated college last year and my work experience, while it might look good on a resume, is really not all that impressive and it was part-time for our family business. Basically, I'm going to have a hard time coming up with what to say about my time there.”

It looks impressive on your resume for a reason. Even if you were not doing “impressive stuff” 24/7, it sounds like you still did some relevant/interesting stuff. Focus on that. They called you for a reason. Most candidates they interview are probably even less “impressive” than you are. They probably received a ridiculous # of resumes for this positions – you already beat out all those people for a reason.

Try to bring up that you passed 2 CPA sections when they ask you what you've been doing. Also, try not to ask about salary/benefits/hours in the initial interview. Be genuine & be yourself.

Also, be confident! It's very important. They invited you in for an interview for a reason – they already like you & are rooting for you to do well in the interview (they dont want to spend 30 minutes interviewing someone they don't like – so for every question they ask, they actually want to be impressed!). It's sort of like public speaking, your audience wants to be interested, impressed, and captivated – and not just sit there and go through the motions.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[khum2011]

Everyone is offering great advice. If you are going to practice interview questions, check out the STAR method of interviewing. Describe the Situation, the Task, the Action you took and the Result. Just be yourself, you'll be great! I've been in interviews for firms where the interviewers have dont most of the talking, so you just never know what you're going to get!

FAR - 82
BEC - 77
AUD - 79
REG - 81

Done 🙂

[Keely]

Thanks everyone. I am practicing a lot of the generic behavioral questions at the moment. I don't feel prepared at all, but I guess the only way you get better is to practice and take the opportunities to interview as much as possible. Everyone has to start somewhere, I am just so nervous! I am just going to try to be myself and be honest, and hope I don't get too much of a curveball. Thanks for all the advice!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

I also wanted to ask, does anyone have any standard questions I should ask THEM?

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[mrcpa]

Here you go. This link was helpful for me

https://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~cdcrun/CDCRUN09/CDC_Interview.html

Licensed - 2012

[Tux]

Ditto to most of the advice already given – PRACTICE – and not just in your head. Get an interview book at the library. Find a friend, (or a few of them) to act like the interviewer and you will answer their questions.

Go through ALL of the steps OVER and OVER and OVER again – greeting, handshake, small talk?, sit down, Q&A, etc.

This will help you to act more natural when you're there. Being too stiff and nervous will get you cut immediately. (that happened to me)

Interviewing is truly a skill, so it must be learned and practiced. This interview is coming up fast, so there's not much time. After this one, (if you don't get the job) I suggest sending resumes even to jobs that you don't want, just to get the interview experience. You want to make your mistakes on the jobs that you don't want, so you're ready when the right one comes along. You can always decline an offer, if you get a job that you don't want.

Always do your best in an interview, even if you don't want the job. That's the only way that you'll learn what works.

Lastly, some schools and community centers offer interview advice and opportunities for mock interviews. Check with your alma mater and/or a community center for those types of resources.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Keely]

Thank you, thank you! I feel really behind in the interview process. I'm 27 years old and have only worked for my Dad, so there wasn't an interview involved, haha. I know the only way I will get better is to practice, but for this one, I'm just hoping not to puke on their shoes.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[jamesjohnson11]

When i interview I look up every possible question that they can ask and write an answer for every one. I then memorize what I will say if they ask me that question or any iteration of it. This has worked well for me.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Author]

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