[Lindrobe]

It seems like every job interview starts out with some type of question like this. What do you answer for this question? Do you talk about your personal interests/hobbies or only your career or both. I have an interview later today and I am curious how other people handle this.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Anonymous]

I don't include any hobbies in my answer. I have a canned answer that I use for any interview I go to, that pretty much says, I graduated from _____University cum laude ____ years ago with degrees in accounting and marketing. I decided to double major in marketing so that I could get 150 credits in 4 years and I felt it was a good complement to accounting. I had an internship at ______ in the assurance services department in between my junior and senior year and received an offer shortly after that. I spent two years in public accounting and two years in internal audit and________ (which is where I would expand on how each of those areas would benefit me in this current position).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I try not to include information already included on the resume…but that's just me. And I do not share my hobbies because I feel like that is an open invitation for criticism on a personal level. Being that I now live back in CA but my degree is from a university in Boston, I usually take the opportunity to explain how that came about. I say something to the effect of :

“I grew up in Carlsbad,CA but decided to go to college in Boston, MA for a change in scenery (cue the inevitable “But it's SO cold” discussion)….etc. etc. etc.”

I think it's nice to give them a perspective of the experiences you've had that shape your outlook thus far.

[Anonymous]

I HATE that question. I don't like repeating the resume or talking about hobbies.

[Lindrobe]

CPAMommyof3, I am right there with you. I hate it too. I feel like I struggle with it, and hadn't really prepared for it like I have other questions, so I spent my lunch break coming up with a response that doesn't mention hobbies and isn't just the same stuff that is in my resume.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mla1169]

I usually tell them (professional/educational) details that explain my personality type. I start by saying I am driven and focused then elaborate by saying I managed a full time job, grad school and the cpa exams simultaneously because I have great time management skills and am able to prioritize my responsibilities.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Usually when I get done with the second grade they decide to move on for some reason.

[LongShot]

I talk about the wife and kids. Try to not too subtly hint that long term job security is worth more to me than-no offense to anyone here!- a younger, single person straight out school who's probably more likely to jump ship for a better opportunity. Good, bad, or indifferent, hiring managers seem to like reducing the probability of having to interview and hire again in 6 months when the person bolts for greener pastures!

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[Anonymous]

I've been at the same company since I had kids, but I think I would be hesitant to talk about my family on an interview. I don't know why, but I feel like it would be held against me because people usually assume that mothers would always be the ones to call in if their child was sick or take off for the kids. I wouldn't want that to be a deciding factor. I have no idea what the reactions would be honestly, but I completely agree with the likelihood that a person with a family would be in it for the long haul over someone that doesn't have those responsibilities.

[Lindrobe]

Well, I have no kids, so it would not be included in my response. I doubt anyone wants to hear about my dogs. Ha ha.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mla1169]

I am also up front about having kids (although, now that they are 14 and 21 I do mention they're young adults). I understand the fear of being assumed to take time off when they're sick or have a school meeting but since that was EXACTLY what I would need to do I wanted it to be known right up front. If it ever cost me a job, its a good thing because I probably would have been on thin ice when I did take time off for one of those reasons.

The only thing I deliberately keep to myself on an interview is my hand tremors. It is usually a shock a few months in to a job for them to find out I can't write anything by hand. But that doesn't affect my ability to do my job well.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[stoleway]

Don't talk about your personal life and family, concentrate on your educational and professional achievements!

The only personal stuff I might be happy to share is where I was born and why I moved to my present location.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[How many letters do you need]

Haha I had an entire interview that consisted of only this question. He was the CFO, so my bosses boss at the time. He said “You already know about the company and we already know about you or you wouldn't be here. Tell me your story. The only stipulations are you have to tell me one thing you learned the most from each position and you can't take more than 45 minutes because I'm hungry. I'll ask questions as you go if needed…”

So away I went. Since I had 45 minutes I obviously went into more detail but it was a great training ground for the “Tell me about you” question. The idea is not to rehash your resume…but rather to give a 30k foot summary and a couple highlights. To this day I still stick in what I learned rather than my accomplishments which are obviously in the resume…good luck!

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Lindrobe]

@How many letters do you need, that is kind of crazy! I don't know how I would do in a situation like that. I hope you got the job at least!

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Anonymous]

You could always tell them that you are the type of person that doesn't have time for stupid questions. LOL 🙂 I know that would get my attention and probably get you a second interview and probably the job.

[How many letters do you need]

Lindrobe- I did! The guy was off the wall wacky though. Walked around every single morning and said hello to everybody on his team from the accounting and finance managers and directors down to the AP clerks (60 people or so). Asked how everybody was, if they needed something from him. What a fantastic leader. I should find that guy on LinkedIn and tell him what I learned from him 🙂

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Author]

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