5 Ways to Elevate Your Interview Impact

You’ve printed extra copies of your resume, selected your best interview outfit, researched the company and are prepared ask questions of the interviewer. But if you want to ace an interview for a highly sought-after accounting and finance job, you’ve got to be ready for more than just the basics. Here are five ways to elevate your interview impact. Understand what’s happening in the industry at large What’s on the minds of accounting and finance pros right now? Do you know how thought leaders in the industry believe artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain will impact the profession? Are new accounting pronouncements or restated earnings from major companies making headlines? Hiring managers want to know that you’ve done some research. This goes beyond the company you’re interviewing with; they want to see that you’re keeping tabs on the industry at large. So, before you head into an interview, read the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal or prominent industry blogs and publications. Do more than just skim the headlines and be ready to talk about industry news in an informed way. Be prepared for technical questions An impressive resume and a polished interview demeanor doesn’t always mean that someone has basic skills to get the job done. For this reason, interviewers may ask a few technical questions targeted at very specific knowledge. The questions they’ll ask will depend on the industry and the position you’re interviewing for, but a quick Google search for “technical questions” plus the job title should reveal some good examples. You don’t have to be able to calculate complex financial ratios on the go, but be prepared to show you’re familiar with common terms and fundamentals. Craft your story Smart interviewers ask open-ended questions to learn more about their candidates. If you really want to build rapport with your interviewer, come ready to not only answer questions but tell your story in a way that will resonate with your interviewer. In a video for LeanIn.org, Jennifer Aaker, Professor of Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, says stories are up to 22 times more memorable Read More »

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