Ace the accounting interview

The interview process can be hectic and nerve-wracking for students. However, with the proper preparation, students can have the confidence and ability to succeed and impress the interviewer. The following article is part of a series that points out the types of questions students are likely to encounter during interviews. According to Nyla Samuels, a senior accounting major who had interviews with prestigious companies such as Ernst &Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and IBM, the following questions are ones that are most likely to be asked by accounting firms. She notes they include "personal questions, company specific questions, behavioral questions, and [questions about] strengths and weaknesses."

What are some examples of personal questions and how should you
answer them?

[One might be] why did you choose accounting? But, the question you get asked a lot is actually, tell me about yourself. Once you are in the interview you need to forget about your GPA, [because] that is what got you through the door. So it's about your personality, and especially for the big four accounting firms…they need to make sure that you can get along with people, so you need to tell them about you and what is it that you like to do.

What are some company-specific questions and how can you prepare for them?

In some cases, they may ask you what it is that you want to do in the company exactly, and why you want to work for the company and what is it about this firm that makes it stand out to you. You need to know about the company, and you have to do the research.

What behavioral questions do they ask?

They would probably ask if you have ever worked in a team before, what was your role in that team, whether you were the team leader or just a member on the team. If there were any conflicts, how you were able to get through the conflict. If there were any challenges how you were able to overcome those challenges.

How do you answer questions about strengths and weaknesses?

Depending on the company you're looking at and the position offered, you need to adjust your answers. For example, if they are looking for someone who has time management skills and is well organized, you can use that and give examples. So if you say, ‘I have good time management skills,' you should give an example. I usually say, ‘I go to school and I work part time. And I'm also in NABA, so I have to have time management [skills].' A weakness is something that you are working on. For example, I sometimes have trouble delegating. So back to the [teams], I am usually the team leader and take the most challenging tasks, but you have to spread the work evenly, so I am working on that. So, it's all about giving examples.

Any other thoughts or advice?

Be prepared. And practice, I practice with some of my friends. This help you be less nervous and more confident, giving an overall better impression. Also try to reach out to someone already working in the company; this can help you find out exactly what the company is looking for. Be prepared. You don't want to go to an interview and think ‘I'm going to wing it'.

Students who are mindful of these questions and successfully prepare for them will increase their chances of having a solid interview in the accounting field.