[Anonymous]

What can you expect on a second round interview? I am going on my 2nd interview with a small firm this afternoon and wondering what I can expect. I know this time around I’ll be interviewing w/a couple of the partners unlike the first interview w/managers so I wonder if I’ll be asked the same questions as the first interview. I’m competing with 2 other candidates and wondering what I should say to set myself apart from them. Suggestions?

[Laura]

@bammers–just remember you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. You will do great I'm sure and what is going to set you a part from the other candidates really is decided by your interviewer; just make sure you are having a conversation with them rather than a question and answer format of an interview. People tend to like the candidate more if they felt at ease with them and can just have a normal conversation. Sorry that isn't more helpful!! Good luck!!

REG-80, 77, 77
BEC-67, 68, 71, 67, 71, 74, 71, 74, 72, 77
FAR- 72, 65,67, 53, 75 (truth be known the 53 was with 4 hours of studying)
AUD-58, 62, 72, 74, 74, 75
took 5 years but I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Erica H]

Typically in my experience a 2nd interview is about 50% of the same stuff but about 50% them telling you more about the company and introducing you to more people, etc.

If you didn't do so before the first interview, I would do some research on the company so you can ask some more detailed questions.

You'll probably meet a bunch more people who have been briefed on your first interview but will have additional questions of their own. The goal at a 2nd interview for them is, “Okay, she meets the qualifications, now does she fit in?” I think at one larger firm I worked at, the 2nd interview had some kind of a personality quotient exam I filled out on a scan-tron sheet, also.

Spectrum.

AUD - 92
FAR - 73, 82
REG - 72, 82
BEC - 84 DONE!!!!!! 🙂

[Anonymous]

I agree with Spectrum

This round is basically learning does he/she fit in well. They may or may not take you lunch as well to see how fit in. And if the partners or others order alcohol….DON'T follow suit, and instead make up some excuse for not having a drink.

[Anonymous]

@everyone, thanks for the advice! I just got back from the interview and it seemed to go really well. They asked me more of the typical interview questions and were giving me some great nods as in ‘perfect response' as they wrote stuff down so hopefully that all translates into “YOU'RE HIRED!” We also talked about hobbies, family, etc. so we strayed away from the boring interview question/answer format. I won't know anything until later this week but am keeping my fingers crossed for an offer and a decent one (salary-wise) at that. I'll keep ya'll posted. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Good luck Bammers! I received an offer at a local CPA firm, and had a similar experience with the 2nd round interview. If there was a decent connection, you have a good shot (depending on how strong the other candidates are).

Hope you get the job and congrats on passing the CPA exams.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, eartzi! Here's to hoping I did well and the other candidates bombed their interview!! 😉

[Anonymous]

Soooo, earlier today I received news that the firm I interviewed with made an offer to someone else 🙁 I allowed myself to sulk for an hour and thanked God that there was no ice cream in the house. I then applied for a boatload of accounting jobs and not necessarily in public accounting which is where I wanna be. I'm not going to lie, I was more bummed about not receiving an offer than I was about failing AUD the first time around…strange, huh? I think it's because I take it more personally when I ‘fail' (as in I don't receive an offer) as a job candidate than I do when I fail a section of the cpa exam because at least then I didn't have to meet face to face w/the graders at AICPA prior to receiving my failing score. Anywho, I'm grateful that I made it to the final 3 candidates and I'm more determined than ever to land a great job 🙂 Thanks again for ya'lls advice 🙂

[Anonymous]

Dang it!

I just have to think the universe is telling you there is something better.

[Herbieherb]

Get back on the horse bammers! You already accomplished alot by passing CPA!!! Don't let it get you down. I laugh at some of the “drama” that unfolds at my current job right now because I know I won't be working there in two months…I have a Sales Tax auditor coming in on June, perfect timing to make an exit LOL

NEW YORK- DONE

[Anonymous]

One way to set yourself apart is to send a handwritten thank you note to each person you interviewed with. I've gotten several jobs where I was the only one who bothered and that is what set me apart.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement ya'll! 🙂 I know it wasn't meant to be and that there's something better out there for me. I think I may land an interview w/some top accounting firms due to some connections but I think they are going to scream and run when they find out my gpa :-/ Maybe I can charm them enough so that my GPA becomes irrelevant hahaha wishful thinking, I know. I think it's time for a nice jog and then my first time at a shooting range later today, woohoo! I will envision all the 71-74 scores while shooting at my target 😉

@Herbie, are you having some success in your job search? My job search began 3/30, the day after I got my last score, so I shouldn't be so hard on myself but I'm mad that I didn't apply to other jobs or send out my resume this week while hoping for an offer from this firm. Lesson learned. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, that's for sure.

@dhuffman, I sent ‘Thank You' emails. My handwriting on non-lined paper is a dang joke and probably offends the recipient more than it flatters them haha.

[One day….]

People that don't have the best overall gpa's could just put their major gpa and/or their senior year gpa (if your senior year was when you realized your gpa mattered). I heard interviewers say that they don't mind people doing this on their resume. Just be prepared to talk about it during the interview (ie: “my freshman year was one big party”).

Congrats on passing the cpa exam! How are you putting that you've passed the cpa exam on your resume? I'm guessing you haven't received a certification notice already to use CPA behind your name.

One day is today! I'm DOOONNNNNEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

[Herbieherb]

@Bammers I applied to 7 places on Friday as my start…that's all sofar I hope for some call backs on Monday. I'm sure the head hunters will call me back at least :)…

NEW YORK- DONE

[NJCPA2B]

Second round can also be about how tough you are. They may try to scare you about long hours or personality conflicts about other employees to see how you react. Your response should be that you don't mind long hours because you're learning, but then they may tell you that you will be making copies all day…….then you will respond……

BEC=77, FAR=78, REG=73,74,80, AUD=70,69, 84 DONE!

[jelly]

Sorry to hear bammers2. Sending good luck your way for more interviews.

Usually round1 is “to screen out crazy”, and subsequent rounds are personality/how you relate to others.

I think the whole thing tends to be a crapshoot. You really don't know if it's a partner's 4th-nephew-twice-removed who got selected, or if the position got eliminated b/c the budget got killed when a client left. It's dicey.

I hear hitting golf balls is also lotsa fun!

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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