accounting recruitment solutions - interview preparation

The interview should be the accountant-controlled climax of the accounting recruitment process and preparation is paramount.

REMEMBER:

1. you should have already prepared mentally as best you can for the most challenging candidates .

2. the interview is your last chance to find out whether that accountancy-hopeful will cope with those ledger-licking lunatics littering the Finance department.

The interview preparation process has 4 important parts:

1. Prepare the Candidate’s CV / Resume:

Quickly scan through the pages. If anything doesn't quite ring true, use our unique Accounting Resume Translator^TM to try and tease out the terrible truth!!

Next, get a fluorescent marker pen and a red biro.

1. highlight suspicious words and phrases
2. embellish with arrows, underlines and exclamation marks
3. scribble comments in CAPITAL letters such as:

   “OH, YEAH??!!”

   “No! No! NO!!!!”

   “IS SHE HAVING US ON?”

   “GET OUT OF HERE!!”

   “COME OFF IT!!”

   “NEED 20 EXAMPLES ELSE IT’S CURTAINS!”

2. Prepare the Receptionist:

How accounting candidates behave in Reception can be a deciding factor in your recruitment decision.

Get the receptionist to complete a quick candidate questionnaire covering:

• punctuality
• politeness
• dress sense
• attractiveness
• accent
• afflictions
• any early signs of accounting anarchy

This will also be needed later.

3. Prepare your Team:

Cultural fit is key to any recruitment decision.

Plan a rambling route from reception to the interview room that will take in as many of the unsuspecting candidate’s clowning co-workers as possible.

Send them an e-mail with a simple 'Yes/No' voting option.

Again, this will be needed later.

4. Prepare the Candidate:

To get the best results from the interview, you need to make sure the candidate is in the right frame of mind.

1. meet him/her in reception. Get the 'Thumbs Up' or 'Thumbs Down' from the receptionist.
2. give the candidate a big contestant-style first-name badge
3. lead the contestant though the office shouting 'VOTE NOW!' as you pass.
4. sit the confused contender at the interview table.
5. place his/her fluorescent CV / resume discreetly in front of you.
6. open your e-mails for the voting results

You're now fully prepared and ready to start the interview.

accounting recruitment text © copyright the-alternative-accountant.com 2009