[Anonymous]

I had 3 mins phone interview for Tax Accountant. Interview start with “tell me about yourself”..I started talking about “I passed 4 parts of CPA exam. yada yada””..That lady say , “So, you want to be a Tax Accountant ?? “..I said, “yes, because I really like tax”..She ended the interview by saying, “I will pass my notes to the partner of the firm, who will contact you for office”..I knew right there, i wouldn’t get any calls.Now 1 week, no calls.

The interview lady for either a receptionist or assistant, who has no clue what CPA candidate is

I have another office interview with different company for Tax Accountant. what should talk about at interview? was I wrong at my first interview?

Min Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 1-3 years of relevant experience. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

thanks

[mla1169]

3 min interview sounds more like a phone screening, which is entirely different. But what makes you think she had no clue what a CPA candidate is?

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Zaq]

When talking about “yourself” I would use this time to bring up something about yourself that stands out. Something that speaks a lot more about who you are as a person and less about what you're trying to sell yourself as a CPA.

It's fine if you bring up the fact that you're a CPA, but if you can bring up some kind of common interest between you and the interviewer it helps establish a lot of rapport in a short period of time. Think about common responses they hear to these questions all the time. Avoid those answers. Instead, try to sell them on why it you would be an enjoyable/likable person to work with.

Source: 2.8 GPA out of college. Landed tons of 2nd/3rd round interviews and offers with several firms.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169..when she said “So, you want be a Tax Accountant ?? “..she must have been thinking why I didn't go for Enrolled Agent.

@InfernoOmni…that's what I was going to say afterwards, I said “I recently passed my CPA exams, I started studying a year ago by myself, because I am self-started,, and highly dedicated towards my career….etc..””

The other interview I have is in the office, which gives me little more hope, that they a least reviewed my resume, unlike that lady, who was surprised, that I wanted to be tax accountant, and I looking for CPA career.

PLUS, I don't have a job right now, so i can't talk about job I did few years ago, basically all academia

thanks people.

[mla1169]

Why was she calling you, did you send in a resume? Wasn't she calling you because you actually applied for a tax position? I'm still not clear on why you think she would be surprised.

I would hesitate to make presumptions of what she must have been thinking, or what she knows. Those types of assumptions can and will hurt you in a job search.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Zaq]

I talked about my hobbies playing the piano, eSports, and indoor/outdoor fitness. 9/10, I have an extended conversation with the interviewer because they want to know more about the concept of traveling the country to play video games for money. It's intriguing and it's something people remember you by. “Oh, yea .The guy that plays video games,” etc. Also had a few conversations about Rachminoff/Mozart and types of indoor fitness.

I feel like goal is to connect with the interviewer at a personal “human” level and as an professional “asset” to the company.

If you reverse roles and think about it from your perspective as a CEO, what would interest you in a prospective interviewee after being handed hundreds of resumes with the essentially the same information? For me, that person would have a great personality with good people skills.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169 that my point. Didn't see my resume, the first thing I have on my resume “Passed 4 parts of CPA Exam, pending experience”

Nothing my resume say anything about tax, besides two professional jobs I did. When someone says “Sooo” it means someone didn't do their HW.

@InfernoOmni. Thanks

How should I answer these question

Why do you want to be tax accountant?

Where do you see yourself in 5 yrs?

The interview I have on Monday is with the Tax Manager, CPA. @mla1169 I know he did his HW. Plus this is employee referral too. We exchanged few emails already. 🙂

Thankss

[mla1169]

I'm still not following the significance of having passed all exams. If I saw a resume of someone looking for a tax job, but (presumably) had no experience in tax, I'd say “soooo” too. You told her you “like” tax. But based on what? I hope you see where I'm going with this. Why should they invest time in you as opposed to the dozens of other applicants with similar qualifications?. Most employees want someone who can demonstrate their ability to hit the ground running. If you don't have experience that speaks to that, you need to give them more than “passed the exam” and “likes tax”. She hears that daily.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169…Well based that I passed all of my exams on first try. Specially with Tax, I got higher score, and done with exams, in less than 1 yr.

I am not applying for a Pro Tax Accountant, as I listed the Min. Qualifications, I do meet it.

I enjoyed my time studying for REG, then any other section. I did help family members with 1099, and do my family taxes, as well.

[mla1169]

It's fabulous that you passed all on the first try. Congratulations. Now you need to stop thinking like a student/candidate and start thinking like an employer. Passing the exams on your first try, even with exceptional scores, does not translate to what is going to help my company. And I've been helping family with taxes for > 20 years but I wouldn't hire me to do taxes, even though I am a licensed CPA. Honestly, they don't care how many tries or what your scores were. Most don't even ask. Be proud of your accomplishments, but don't count on them to get your foot in the door! Trust me, I've got over 20 years accounting experience and my license, but that in itself is not enough to land me my dream job! I still have to prove that my employment benefits the company more than other candidates for the same position. You've got a lot going for you, don't be content to rest on your laurels.

It's great that you meet the min requirements. But again, so do the 30 other people who applied. Some may also have bona fide experience. So give them something to say you're the BEST candidate they've got. You've got To distinguish yourself somehow.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Well I agreed with mla1169. For a new hire, I think most company are looking for people that will fit in. I think the interviewer is looking for an answer that is less about hard skill rather than soft skill. Good luck.

[Author]

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