If you are about to leave school or college and are applying for your first job, the thought of your first job interview can be pretty scary.
Having a formal interview for a post which could launch you on your career is much more important than an interview for a casual student job such as working in a burger bar.
There will be a number of people shortlisted for the job and invited to interview. Every one of them has got past the first hurdle – they have produced a resume and cover letter or application form which proved they can do the job.
So you are competing against the best. If you want to get the job, you have to make sure that you stand out.
First of all, you must get the basics right. This means dressing appropriately for the interview. You’ll need to wear a business suit if you are going for a corporate job. In other industries, where dress code may be more casual, wear something a little smarter than you would expect to wear on the job.
Make sure you show up on time. You should work out the route in advance and time the journey. If possible, do a trial run at the same time of day as your interview. This will give you an idea of traffic conditions and help you find the building.
If you can’t do this, leave plenty of time on the day. It can be difficult to find some addresses, despite having a map. As if that’s not enough, you could find yourself faced with a company which is housed in several buildings with a complex network of connecting corridors. Arriving 5 minutes early is no good if it takes you 10 minutes to find the place you are meant to be.
Be sure to have the phone number handy so that you can let them know if something goes wrong on the journey, or an unavoidable crisis means you will be late.
Think about the type of questions you might be asked and come up with short intelligent answers. For a first job it’s likely you’ll be asked about your studies, why you have chosen this career or company. Make sure you know the answers.
It’s important to really think about your strengths and what you have to offer the company. What special contribution will you be able to make, which sets you apart from the other candidates?
Look at your work experience and find transferable skills – even if you have only worked as a waiter or waitress, you’ll have developed customer service and communication skills. Don’t forget about any clubs or societies you belonged to at college or any volunteering you were involved in.
Take a copy of your application to remind yourself of what you said and be sure you can explain any gaps in your resume. With the right preparation, you can ace that first interview.
Getting a second interview is typically your goal when you attend a first interview.
Unless the job you’re applying for has a one-interview process to be followed by a job offer to the successful candidate, you will most likely be trying to get invited back for a second interview.
For more senior positions you might even come back for a third and subsequent interviews. Sometimes companies have processes in place that result in multiple interviews for potential employees.
What actually happens in the second interview of course largely depends on what happened in the first interview.
Often, the first interview is a Human Resources (HR) interview. This is when you get interviewed by a member of HR to determine whether or not you are someone who would fit with their company.
The HR interview might focus on what some job searchers often sarcastically refer to as “touchy-feely” questions but don’t treat this interview as a joke.
You might be surprised at the power that HR wield in some companies. I’ve seen some HR staff turn down job candidates even when the hiring manager liked them.
Also, don’t expect to be able to go into the HR interview and “wing it.” In other words, make sure you prepare for this interview as you would any other interview.
If your first interview was with the hiring manager, the second interview might be a more in depth discussion with the same hiring manager and/or you might meet up with one of their peers (ie. another manager) or perhaps you’ll meet up with people you’d be working with should you get the job.
In this case, the questions you face tend to be more in depth than before. At this point, the company has shown interest in you so they will want to gain more information about you and your suitability for the job.
You also need to gain more knowledge about the company and the people you’d be working with.
Some companies might hold a panel second interview where you get interviewed by several people at once. I’ve experienced this several times myself.
When you’re leaving the first interview try to get a sense as to what the next step in the process is.
If you find out that you have been invited to a second interview try to find out who you’ll be meeting with and what each person does. This will help you get a better sense of what the second interview will entail and what you will need to prepare for.
Job interviews can be very stressful situations. To alleviate that stress so that you come across as confident, competent, and capable: be prepared, have good communications skills, and have a few tricks up your sleeve. Stepping it up so that you shine in the interview and stand out from the crowd is what’s going to get you the job.
It cannot be stressed enough: Do your homework on the company. Know what they do, and what’s currently going on with them. Check the company’s website and Google them, too, to find information from newspapers, magazines, and blogs. That should give you plenty of material to discuss, as well as help you direct your answers to what’s going to be of the most interest to them. And, it gives you material for great questions to ask-it fills in the information you need, and it demonstrates your interest in the company.
Check to see who you are LinkedIn with who has a connection to the hiring manager (or someone very close to them). If you find a connection in your networks, that’s a definite plus for you.
Interview preparation and presentation will help you. Make sure you are fresh and alert, watch your body language, and be prepared to market yourself. Don’t rely on the interviewer to lead you to the information they need on you. Not all interviewers are skilled at getting the information they need. Radiate enthusiasm for the job. Act like you’d enjoy it, not like you’re desperate to get it.
Go into the interview with a 30-day, a 60-day, and a 90-day business plan. This is simply a plan for what you are going to do in that time frame after you get hired. If you want to get a hiring manager’s attention, this is the way to do it. It shows that you are serious, capable, and committed. If you’re going to a dinner/lunch interview, please be sure your table manners are excellent. Get a book if you have to. It sounds basic, but candidates lose jobs because of poor table manners at dinner. And of course, dress professionally: conservatively, with nails trimmed, shoes shined, and no overt fragrances or flashy jewelry.
A few more tricks to tone your interview skills: have a few small talk topics ready to go, and remember to be confident. No sarcasm or self-deprecation. If you have to give yourself a pep talk before you go in, do it. Be positive. Videotape yourself answering interview questions to see how you perform. Ask for feedback from others.
Look at it from an employer’s perspective: they want someone with the skills to do the job as well as someone they can relate to and work with on a day-to-day basis. Be friendly. Think of it as a networking opportunity. Being relaxed and confident, and asking your own questions in a give-and-take session will help alleviate your nerves and result in a great interview.
Use basic business� etiquette, like shaking hands. When someone is introduced to you, be sure to shake hands with him or her. This is also true when you are introducing yourself. Do not hesitate to make your handshake firm, but see to it that the handshake is not overly firm. The handshake should not be lame, more of a no� n.Never never ask about salary in the first instance, not in the first interview. This will make you look desperately in need of the job. It will diminish your chances or ability to negotiate later on.� However, if the interviewer or hiring manager opens the topic, be prepared to discuss it. Do not think however that the discussion is the final one. Let the hiring manager get back to you, either for an offer or for a second interview.
June 10th, 2010 in
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In banking interviews, there is no shortage of questions. You will be asked a lot so that the interviewer may assess your qualifications; therefore, it is important that you are well prepared. All questions should be dealt with in a positive way. The company will get you when they can see that you have what they are looking for. Some sample questions are written below:
Do you think you have leadership quality?
Can you explain when did you show leadership?
Have you think you can perform well in a group?
What is your most noted accomplishment?
What are your positive traits or strengths?
What are your negative traits or weaknesses?
What you can do for the company others people can’t?
Explain an example when you had a personal conflict and how you resolved it?
Tell a time when you had an ethical dilemma and how you resolved it.
What type of person do you find difficult to get along with?
Filling out applications and posting resumes are not enough to get you the job. If you really wanted a career in a specific field, like banking, you have to network and get involve in events that will give you the opportunity to meet people in that area of expertise. Talking to the right people will give insights on how to go about and succeed in landing the job that you dreamed of. Participate in the activities of various civic societies, this is a great networking venue as you will be rubbing shoulders with important personalities that can give you the break you need. Advertise yourself, sell the idea that you’re a good worker and is currently available to render service.
Increase in work from private equity companies requires the use of interim project accountants. Accounting firms are going beyond the call of duty but still support the general spirit of the initiative. Accountants themselves are eager and are offering a wider scope of work particularly in smaller businesses where they advise on strategy, often liaising at boardroom level.”
Q:� What are the major line items of a cash flow statement?� Walk me through.
A:� The cash flow statement starts with revenues and expenses. It als includes Current Assets and Current Liabilities. It includes major items like incoming sales, loans, labour, materiasl, purchased capital, loan repaid, and taxes
Q:� Why have you been not working for a long time now?
A:� After my job was completed, I made a personal decision not to accept the first job offer that would come along. I found out in the latter months that something positive would always come out of the negative, IF you try hard, and focus on what you really like.� I wanted to think through every offer and decide what is best for me, and what I really want.” Identify the companies you have in mind.
Q.� Why should deferred taxes be accounted for?
A:� As one recognizes deferred tax liabilities in its books,� a company should make sure that the tax liability for the year in question should be reflected in that year’s financial documents. This should not carry over to its profits in te successding years. This brings investors to gaining understanding of exactly how much of a company’s profits for a certin period are from its operations (instead of from fiscal savings).
February 10th, 2010 in
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Days before your scheduled interview, you should start researching about the company. Read about the mission of the company, history and social responsibility. You can research about their on going projects. Internet is the best tool for this.
You should also do some research about the post you are applying. Read about the qualifications needed, and review your resume. Think about their possible questions. Practice your answers…
Prepare yourself. Choose a professional suit thats comfortable yet smart. Pamper yourself days before the interview, get your hair or nails done or go shopping. This would help boost your image as well as your confidence.
January 10th, 2010 in
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Investment banking is not a specific function but a unified term for a scope of activities: underwriting, selling, and trading securities, offering financial advisory services, and managing properties. These services are offered to a host of clients – companies, governments, institutions, and individuals. It is a fast-paced world where deals are done and wherein you can learn the mechanisms of a corporate world. You’ll be able to acquire the analytical skills that will be useful in your business career. You have to work hard to succeed and be prepared to spend long hours to meet the demands of the job.
December 28th, 2009 in
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