The document provides guidance for a candidate going through an interview for their first job as an accounts clerk. It outlines example questions the interviewer may ask and recommended responses the candidate should provide. The candidate should present themselves professionally, be knowledgeable about the company and role, and emphasize their suitability despite a lack of experience through qualifications and willingness to learn.

1. Just imagine that you are in front of the Interview Board

2. Interview Scenario First Job – No work expereince

3. This is about an interview for an Accounts Clerk in a trading company. It is assumed that the candidate does not have experience and few years after school. This scenario could be adopted for any entry- level job that you are applying as your first job

4. The secretary to the Interview Board has called upon the candidate to attend to the interview. You may assume that you are the candidate. You must thank the secretary and open the door and go inside the room where the interview is held. You should not bang the door. You should close the door with respect to the people inside the room

5. Interviewer: Good morning. come in Mr. Ranasinghe. Candidate: Good Morning Sir. (Note : You should present a positive attitude. Make eye contact with the interview board and make a respectful smile. Let them make a positive first impression about you. Although the chair in front of the table is meant for you, do not pull it and sit until you are asked to do so. When you are asked to sit, thank them, pull the chair carefully and sit comfortably. Do not keep your file on the table of the interviewer but keep it on your lap)

6. Interviewer: How are you Mr. Ranasinghe Candidate: I am fine. Thank you. ( Note 3:Even if you are having a splitting headache you need not say that you are “sick” or “not bad” or “just hanging on” Interviewer: How did you come to the interview today? Candidate: I came by bus Sir.

7. Interviewer: From where do you travel and how long it took you to come to our office? Candidate: I travel from Ja-ela and it took about 45 minutes in this time of heavy traffic to come to your office in this morning Sir. ( Note 4: The interviewer is trying here to make a foundation for a dialogue and find out where you live and how long it takes you to come to work in the mode of traveling that you use. Further he would also try to verify your address given in the application. If that differs from the given address in the application he may inquire about it)

8. Interviewer: How did you learn about this vacancy? Candidate: I saw your ad in the Ceylon Daily News and read it with interest and thought that I would be a strong candidate for this job and sent my application on the same day that I saw it in the paper Sir. ( show them that you had a real interest in the company and the job)

9. Interviewer: Do you know anything about our company? Candidate: Yes Sir. Everybody knows that you are a leading company in the field of automotive parts. You advertise a lot in the press and in the electronic media. Interviewer: Do you know anything about our branches? Candidate: Yes Sir. You have many branches. Let me name a few locations. Matara, Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura. I recently read in the newspapers that you are going to open another branch at Negombo too. ( You must learn about the company and its background before you attend the interview. It will show that you have a real interest in joining the company rather than finding a job in any company )

10. Interviewer: Very well. Can you describe about your school career. Candidate: Well. I had my primary education at Kekirawa Central College in the Anuradhapura District. Then I sat for the Grade V Scholarship Exams and became the first in the district with 165 marks. Interviewer: Then which school did you enter ? Candidate : Then I was fortunate to join Ananda College, Colombo 10 for my secondary education. I passed the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) Examination with four Distinctions and Four Credits in 1995 and sate for the Advanced Level in 1997 and got though the exam with four Cs in Commerce subjects. Then made a second attempt in 1998 and improved my results and obtained two Bs and Two Cs. Interviewer: Were you selected for the university ? : Candidate: No Sir, I was not selected to the university as they did not have enough room to accommodate us.

11. Interviewer: Did you take part in any extra- curricular activities? Candidate: Yes Sir. I took interest in both studies as well as other activities at the school. I played for the 2nd Eleven Cricket Team and took part in Athletics. I was a member of the Boys Scout Movement; I was elected as the Secretary of the Commerce Society. In addition I was appointed as a Senior Prefect of the College. Interviewer: You said that you played Cricket. What were you in the team? Candidate: I played as an all-rounder.

12. Interviewer: What was your highest score and against whom you obtained that? Candidate: I can very well remember that day Sir. It was with St. Peter’s College that I scored my highest. It was 124 runs. Interviewer: Can you explain the fielding position mid-on? Candidate: Yes Sir. It is on the right hand side of the bowler and about 10 yards away from the bowling wicket. (Note: If you have not played cricket and are lying then you may not be able to explain all such detail )

13. Interviewer: If you had played well in the 2nd Eleven Team, why dint you get a chance to play for the 1st Eleven Team? Candidate: I had to choose between studies and sports Sir. I was doing A levels at that time and I could not attend practices as often as it was required and it took a long time for me to get back to home as I was boarded at Homagama when I was going to school. Although I like cricket very much and I performed well I could not continue due to such circumstances.

14. Interviewer: You said that you took part in athletics. What was your pet event? Candidate: My pet event was 400 meters. I became first in the inter house meet. Interviewer: Can you remember your timing? Candidate: Yes Sir. My best timing for 400 meters was 53 seconds. (Note: If you have not taken part in athletics and are lying then you may not be able to explain all such detail

15. Interviewer: What was your favorite subject at school? Candidate: Economics was my favorite subject. We had a very good teacher and he taught us very well and I always had the best marks in the class for economics. Interviewer: If economics was you best subject, can you explain how price is determined in an open market? Candidate: Well. Basically it is by the operation of Demand and Supply forces. Those two forces will meet somewhere and the spot that they meet together is called the market equilibrium price. ( Note: you should know the basics of your favourite subject )

16. Interviewer: What did you do after leaving school? Candidate: This is my 2nd year after leaving school Sir. Since I come from a Sinhalese speaking family, I had to improve my Spoken English skills although I developed my writing skills at Ananda College. So I followed the English Diploma at the Aquinas College and completed the course successfully. Further I am now following a Computer Course at the Institute of Data Management and also attending classes in the weekends for Chartered Accountancy. So I was more or less full time in education even after I left school.

17. Interviewer: We require at least one-year experience for this post. However we find that you have no experience. Candidate: Yes Sir. But I have many friends who are working as Accounts Clerks in companies like yours. They also joined without experience Sir. However now they are doing very well in their jobs after they received initial training. If you do not mind can you please let me know the work involved with my job Sir? ( Note: Do not worry about this questions as no company can get experienced staff for all the positions. Everybody has to start work initially without experience)

18. Interviewer: Yes. Certainly. You will have to keep books such as writing the cashbook, Sales ledger, Purchase ledger, maintaining certain records etc. Further we have computerized our accounts system and you will have to work mainly with computers. Candidate: . I did commerce at school and now I am following a course for Chartered Accountancy. I know the theoretical aspect of all you indicated. Further I have developed computer skills and my language skills. We have done a special subject on computer applications in accountancy. Interviewer: But still you do not have any experience? Candidate : Yes Sir, but I do hope that I would be able to do the job well if I am given a little bit of initial training Sir. I am a fast learner Sir. I will work for a nominal pay during my period of training. I have selected accountancy as my career and I will do my best to learn it and do well Sir.

19. Interviewer: Well. Can you tell us something about your family? Candidate: My home town is Kekirawa. My parents are teachers. They still live at Kekirawa. I have two brothers and one sister. My sister is married and lives with my parents. One of my brothers is working as an Assistant Accountant at Abans Ltd. My younger brother is an engineering student at the University of Moratuwa. Note 13

20. Interviewer: You said that you live at Jaela. Are you boarded there? Candidate: No Sir. My brother who works at Abans is married and he lives at Jaela. I am staying with him. Note 14: Interviewer: Why have you selected Accountancy as your career? Candidate: I did commerce at school and liked the subject accountancy from the beginning. Further my bother is also an Accountant. I have few friends also who are in the field of accountancy. They all are doing well. In comparison to other professions, accountants are paid well and it is a well-respected job.

21. Interviewer: What is your career plans? Candidate: One day I would like to be a Finance Director. I need to do lot of things before I reach that position. I need to complete my professional exams first. I have determined that I would somehow finish my exams within five years. Further I would work well for a company like yours and would be pleased to go on to the top of the ladder with my experience, qualifications and dedication to work.

22. Interviewer: Will you be able to work in one of outstation offices? Candidate: Yes Sir. I am willing to work in any area. I need to come to Colombo only in the weekends to attend classes. Interviewer: Can you do overtime? Candidate: Yes Sir. I am ready to work beyond normal working hours if I am asked to do so. Further I would not hesitate to work even on few weekends if that work is very important for my job even I have to attend classes. When I start work, I do not go by the watch, I would be there till it is finished. Note 15:

23. Interviewer: If you offer you this job, when can you commence work? Candidate: Since I am not employed currently, I can start working at any time Sir. However, if it is not urgent, I would prefer if you could allow me two weeks as I am studying for the Foundation Exam of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Then I will be able to come as soon as the exams are over. Interviewer: There will not be a problem of giving you two weeks. But once you join here we may not be able to give you study leave as such. Candidate: That will not be a problem Sir. I will plan my self to study after working hours and will not wait till the exams come close to study. I have to adjust my self according to the situation at hand.

24. Interviewer: What is the salary that you expect? Candidate: This is my first job Sir. I do not have experience too Sir. I know that your company is a good employer and pay reasonable salaries to your employees. I will accept anything that you offer. Note: Interviewer: Anyway let me know what you have in mind Candidate: I have few friends working in the same capacity in similar companies. During the Training period they received about Rs. 7500 and then after six months they were given Rs. 10000 per month. If something similar to that or any other reasonable amount as you think fit would be acceptable.

25. Interviewer: Have you got any references that we can refer to? Candidate: Yes Sir. As I have indicated in my application you may refer to the Principal of Ananda College, Mr. Kodithuwakku. He knows me very well and he will be able to give you a good account of my self. Further, you can also speak to Mr. Jayawickrama, who is my English Instructor at Aquinas College for further reference. Note:

26. Interviewer: Do you have any questions? Candidate: Well… I do not have anything specific Sir. But can you please tell me about my whether this job is a permanent post or a temporary post and promotion prospects. Note : Interviewer: This is a permanent post. If you are selected, you will be paid Rs. 8000 per month during the training period of three months. If you learn and perform well you will then be paid Rs. 12500 per month. In addition you will receive medical benefits, bonuses etc. We promote employees on merit. If you do well and show your loyalty to the company you will be promoted as and when vacancies arise in the company. Candidate: Thank you very much Sir. I would really be glad to work for a company like yours.

27. Candidate: One more question Sir. If I am selected to the job, when can I expect to hear from you? Interviewer: If you are selected you will receive a letter within two weeks informing you to report to work.

28. Interviewer: Thank you very much Mr. Ranasinghe. We think that you are a strong candidate for the job. We will be interviewing few more candidates having similar qualifications; if they do not perform as you in the interview you will have a very good chance in getting this job. We wish you all the best Candidate: Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward very much to hear from you and would be very pleased if I am selected to work for your renowned company.

29. Hey …. I got that job