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So, your resume or career consultant may have landed you a few interviews, now it's time to wrap up the deal and clinch your dream job. Surviving an interview can be a nerve-wracking or uplifting experience, depending upon the way you approach it.
Either way, it's going to land you your next job, and if properly prepared for, it could be sixty minutes that changes your life.
The better professional is looking for the right career move, rather than the first job they can get. A lot is about fit, but the opportunity itself and the chance to advance within the organization are just as important.
Whether it's a high-profile third interview with the Senior Partner at an established firm, the CFO of a blue-chip listed company, or a first meeting with the hiring authority and/or HR, the time you spend on preparation is vital to help you stand out from the competition.
Ultimately your objective is to show that you are the best person for the job, so it is important to spend time assessing your skills, experience, strengths, limitations and personal preferences.
If you are preparing for a specific interview, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the job description or brief before tackling this task.
Firstly, your primary aim is to convince the interviewer that:
- You would be able to do the job competently;
- You can bring enhanced benefits to the company;
- You are the best candidate on both of the above counts.
With this in mind, begin by looking at your background and sketch a profile of your key attributes which best fit the interviewer's impression of an ideal candidate.
Using the key skills outlined in your resume, ask yourself what you can do for the company or firm.
Until you're actually at the interview, it may be difficult to identify exactly what the role entails, so it's important that you know which of your skills you can apply to the job.
Strengths and weaknesses
Your strengths are the unique aspects about you that could set you apart from other candidates. But nobody’s perfect.
Everyone has faults or areas where improvements can be made, so think about your own weaker points beforehand as you are likely to be asked about your weaknesses at the interview.
There isn't room for modesty in an interview. You'll invariably be asked what you think your best achievement was.
A modest answer may show that you lack self-confidence. Of course it doesn't pay to exaggerate your achievements or over stretch the imagination. It is wise to be brief but confident about your achievements — the interviewer will press for more details if he or she wants to know more.
The power of positive thinking should never be underestimated!
I have seen many fine candidates ‘blow it’ at the interview simply because they were so nervous, so here’s a great little exercise you can do — without anybody knowing — to help you overcome this natural problem.
Positive thinking and visualization
Many sports professionals, sales professionals, public speakers and successful candidates use this powerful mental tool to overcome nerves.
Before you go into the meeting, imagine yourself in the interview, cool, calm and collected, offering a firm handshake, looking the other person in the eye and smiling as you introduce yourself.
Imagine speaking clearly and confidently, smiling and being very articulate when answering questions.
Visualize the interviewer reacting well to your answers and the two of you developing a ‘rapport’.
The feeling of confidence that you can create just from this simple exercise, that nobody will know you’re doing, is amazing.
The next important aspect of your interview is the questions you ask.
Many professionals place greater importance on the questions candidates ask during the interview than on the answers they give to their own questions. Do your research. Visit the firm or company’s web site. Do a ‘Google search’ and find out about the latest developments at the company you’re interviewing with.
Being knowledgeable and being seen to be knowledgeable are two different things, so work into your conversation something like: “…I noticed while doing my research on the firm that...” and then drop in some new development or event the firm is involved in or a page on their web site about an event or service that interested you – it will show you’re taking this seriously.
You should have been supplied with a descriptive brief of the role, and possibly some details on the company. If not, ask for one. The more you know about the job and company prior to the interview, the bigger your impact.
The interviewer will certainly be impressed with your diligence and enthusiasm, and naturally it reflects the thoroughness of your work.
Here is a suggested list of some of the information worth researching, much of which could be available on their web site and industry/profession-related sites and other sources such as the business press:
- What is the exact nature of the company's business? It sounds too obvious, but don't be fooled. Assume nothing. Even some public accounting firms serve niche markets and are very different from the ‘normal’ type of firm.
- What are its key product/service portfolios and revenue streams?
- How many staff does it have? What is the average age of staff, the company culture?
- What is the company's annual revenue and profit — do they report in Canadian or US dollars and under Canadian GAAP or US GAAP? (If not a public accounting firm)
- Who are its main competitors?
- Has it been in the press lately, and are there any controversial announcements or decisions?
- Does the company have any major projects or changes planned?
- Who are the CEO, CFO and other relevant directors? Especially the person responsible for the department in which the vacancy exists.
- What sort of industry or business climate does this company trade in? What are the trends and potential challenges?
- Do a ‘Google search’ on the firm or company AND on the person who will be interviewing you — it’s amazing what you can learn about someone and their firm just by doing this.
- Don’t go overboard, you only need to know enough to leave an impression.
Alternatively, if you applied for the job through a recruitment agency, you could ask for their advice on the company's profile. The agency may have placed several people within the company and would therefore be very familiar with its activities.
A final point — make sure you dress appropriately for the interview. Ask your career consultant, if you are using one, about their dress code, or if you are working under your own steam, then call the office and ask. It’s far better to do this and feel comfortable on the day than not.
The amount of preparation you undertake is a reflection of how seriously you want to land the job.
Confidence, technical ability, people skills and personality are the keys to driving your career forward.
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Steve McIntyre-Smith is President & CEO of MFA Group Inc, a ‘boutique’ consulting firm which only works with public accounting firms, helping them with recruiting the right staff, brokering mergers & acquisitions between CA firms, strategic planning for Partners, Partner retreats and much more.
For more information on Steve’s company, please visit his main web site at www.mfagroup.com.
You can contact Steve by email at steve@mfagroup.com or you can call him at his Oakville office, direct at 905-842-2284.
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