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1. Top Interview Tips for Accounting
Jobs
Accountants come in many different
variations, including public accountants, tax
accountants, government accountants, forensic
accountants, management positions and auditors. Of
course, before you settle into a new accounting
position, you have to get through the interview process
and get the job. Here are some important tips to ace
your next accounting job interview.

2. Get the Interview
 In order to ace the interview, you first have to get the interview. Whether you‟re
fresh out of school or between jobs, here are some useful tips to help you get
your foot in the door:
 Prepare Your Resume – Create a clear and concise, one page document that
you can give to one or two other people to review for some honest feedback.
You‟ll need a paper version, as well as an online version to include in emails.
Avoid anything too flashy or colorful and include all of your relevant schooling,
experience and specialty accounting knowledge you may have.
 Professional Email Address – Before you begin the job search, it‟s wise to
create a professional email address you can use for just accounting-related
emails. Make it as simple and basic as possible, and include it on your resume.
 Mine Your Resources – Contact old professional acquaintances, schoolmates
or anyone else that can help get the word out that you are looking for an
accounting position.
 Face-to-Face – Try to get out to at least one or two networking events per week
to increase your exposure and make an impression on people who may be
hiring.
 Go Online – Take advantage of the social media outlets that can help get your
name out there, and if possible, create a mini website detailing your skills and
experience. Include the url of your site on your resume and on business cards.
 Go to the Source – One strategy to get an interview at companies you want to
work for is to make contact and submit your resume whether they are actively
hiring or not. It probably won‟t pay to harass them or seem pushy, but getting
your name in there won‟t hurt.

3. Get Prepared
 Once your efforts have paid off and you‟ve landed the interview, it‟s time to get
prepared. In many cases, accountants are wonderful with numbers, but not the
greatest at communicating those skills in an interview setting. That‟s why it‟s
important to prepare yourself well, so you can maintain the flow of conversation and
get your points across. Most companies will grasp that your prowess lies with
numbers and figures, but if it‟s between you and another accountant, leaving a
favorable impression will help.
 Do Some Research – Go online and research the company that you are
interviewing for. It will help your chances if you‟re well-versed about exactly what
they do, their history and the future outlook so you know who you‟ll be working for
and what they‟re all about. It‟s also important to get yourself into a “selling yourself”
kind of mindset so you can really get the point across about what you can offer the
company.
 Create Your Story – Before the interview, work out exactly how you might present
yourself and your story to the interviewer. It‟s important that you sell yourself, and
since accountants are always the best at doing that, some preparation will help.
Practice with a friend or family member beforehand to ensure you sound natural
and don‟t leave out any important points.
 Prep for Questions – While it‟s true that you can never really know exactly what
an interviewer may ask, you can cheat a little. If you go into Google and type in
„common accounting interview questions‟ you‟ll get a sense of what you may be
asked. Some questions will likely be technical and some will be trying to gauge
your personality and work habits.

4. General Tips
 As with an interview for any
position, there are some
general rules and tips to follow
with accounting positions.
 Arrive five to 10 minutes early
 Always dress professionally
 Make eye contact when you‟re
speaking
 Listen intently and don‟t
interrupt
 Speak clearly, and not too
quickly
 Ask questions about the
company, the department and
the position
 Shake hands firmly
 Ask for a business card

5. Common Mistakes
 Just as there are important things to do in
an accounting job interview, there are
also common mistakes you are best to
avoid. Aside from showing up late to the
interview and dressing
inappropriately, some other mistakes
include:
 Chewing gum during the interview
 Leaving your cell phone turned on
 Not connecting your previous experience
to this job
 Asking about salary on the first interview
 If you really take the time to learn about
the position and prepare for the
interview, your chances of coming out of it
with a new job will be high. Remember to
translate your accounting skills well and
sell yourself every step of the way, and
you‟ll do just fine.