Having an up to date CV is so important, you’re telling the employer that you are well prepared and up to date. It’s not a great look having to explain or qualify points on your CV in the interview itself. And remember the ‘3 P’s’ - prepare, practice and then practice some more!

Preparing well makes a great first impression and helps you to feel calm and confident on the day. Bringing a copy of your CV is also a great idea. Why not go the whole hog and bring at least three hard copies of your CV to the interview for multiple interviewers, plus one for yourself?

Well done, preparation is your middle name. You’re even prepared to answer some common interview questions ahead of time. You could be a great addition to any company. Now, be clear about what you want, knowing what you want is an attractive quality, so don’t be shy to name your price.

Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview! With this in mind, make sure to always arrive early and answer questions truthfully! It’s also a good idea to save interview contact information, so that you have your interviewer's phone information and can alert them if you're late for any reason.

You look sharp and your punctuality is putting you in a great light. Don’t forget to make eye contact, give a firm handshake, and begin the interview with a positive comment about the company and about how genuinely pleased you are to have this opportunity. Reviewing common interview questions is a great tool for preparing for an interview too.

Great stuff! You’re doing all the right things and the high personal standards you uphold make you very attractive to employers. Arriving as early as you do shows that you're planning ahead and that you’re interested in the position. The way you approach interviews puts you streets ahead before the other candidates have even arrived!

Understanding the job description tells you more about the company in general and helps you think of possible questions the interviewer might ask. Then you can think about how you can relate your experience to the job specification. If you think nerves will prevent you from coming up with any questions to ask the interviewer on the spot, why not Google a few common ones and have them ready up your sleeve?

Make sure you read the job description well! Also, make sure you aren’t missing the golden opportunity of the "Tell me about yourself" question. When you are ready to expand on a few points about yourself, you can make them your key selling points! This enables you to explain why you are right for the job.

Well done, you’re making the right impression! As you always read the job description thoroughly you can use this information to best determine which of your qualities and qualifications you want to emphasise.

A lack of success in an interview might indicate that you just didn’t communicate what the interviewer wanted to hear. It’s not a reflection on you as a person and you shouldn’t take it personally. Just remember, following your interview, remember to give immediate feedback to your recruitment consultant.

Following your interview, remember to give immediate feedback to your recruitment consultant. This needs to include any areas you felt you may have fallen down on - perhaps you forgot to highlight one of your skills or you forgot to mention a relevant experience. Your consultant can cover this for you in his or her call to the employer.

Not landing the role can come as a surprise sometimes, especially when you have put a lot of work in preparing for it. Let’s face it, it can feel like a kick in the teeth. Just remember, following your interview, to give immediate feedback to your recruitment consultant. They will call the employer for their feedback and help you to be successful the next time round.

Always be prepared for a test or evaluation, which the interviewer may use to see your skills at work. The ability to answer technical questions and explain your thought process well is going to help you to stand out, along with the ability to explain what it is about you that will benefit the company.

As well as mentioning personal attributes, professional qualifications and soft and hard skills, it’s worth telling the interviewer that you'd really like the job and give reasons why you'd like to work there. You’ll be remembered in a positive light at decision time.

You always do your research. You read the website ‘About’ page, company social media, mission, vision and values and articles. Now it’s time to weigh up communicate how the company mission statement aligns with your personal career goals.

One of the key parts of being an accountant is being organised, detail-oriented and communicative (along with being mathematically competent of course). It’s all about the detail and attention to it is key. We can help you to improve in the core competencies and soft skills that employers are looking for and assist you in the practicalities of building your career. Get in touch today.

We don’t just place candidates, we nurture careers, and we’ll help you to create a roadmap of where you want to be and define what is possible. Let’s improve your CV and get you interview ready to maximise your chance of securing interviews and finding that dream job! Reach out today.

When you have all the accounting qualifications and the skills that employers need, climbing the next step on your career ladder is more about being in the right place at the right time. Let’s be proactive and open doors that otherwise might be closed by getting your CV in front of the right people. We can prepare you to go into every interview fully armed so that interviewers know that you are the candidate who will make all the difference to their company. For your next challenge, get in touch today.