New recruiting trends in accounting firms – what you may face in your next interview

Especially in large accounting firms, human resources managers are always trying to attract and retain the best personnel; therefore it’s common for them to have regular recruiting processes instead of only hiring new professionals when understaffed.

Their efforts in spotting the best accounting practitioners go above and beyond regularly recruiting – over time they have developed strategies to help identify the best candidates, and most of these take place during interviews.

To help you do well and stand out to hiring managers, here are some facts and tips on how to react and respond to some not-very-traditional interview structures and questions.

• Some companies might have multiple rounds of interviews. Their aim here is to get the same candidates interviewed by at least three different human resources managers and agents so to minimise biased decisions. So if you are called in for a few interviews, remember to be prepared for all of them, so you increase your chances of getting the job.

• Be prepared to answer some odd questions that have nothing to do with the position you applied for or your resume. These questions are designed to help the interviewer understand how you think and how well you can communicate without using technical language.

• They may also throw a curveball at you to see how you react to unexpected and stressful situations. If someone interrupts your interview – it may have been planned, so stay calm and say hello, introduce yourself and show the interviewer you don’t get stressed out that easily.

• Hiring managers might get you to complete a case study or a test. This is simply so they can assess your critical thinking skills and attention to detail. Don’t worry too much and just complete the task to the best of your abilities.

• Remember that hiring managers are paying close attention to the questions you ask them. Avoid asking questions that can easily be answered by a visit to the company website. Do your homework, research the company, their projects, your interviewer, and ask interesting questions. Ask specific questions about recent projects, or about the position you’re interested in.

If you demonstrate you are prepared, and you can present yourself professionally, you have no reasons to worry. Yes, job hunting is a stressful time, but with some preparation and practice, nothing can stop you from being the newest employee at your preferred accounting firm.