Interview Preparation Guide for Professional Year Program

This guide provides students in the Professional Year Program with a comprehensive overview of interview preparation. It includes tips and examples for answering common interview questions, such as 'Tell me about yourself' and 'Why do you want to work for our company?'. The guide also offers advice on handling situational and behavioral questions, as well as providing questions to ask the interviewer. Suitable for students in the Professional Year Program.

Professional Year Program
Accelerating Interview Success
(AIS)
Interview Preparation Guide
Student Name: ............................................................................................
Student Number: .........................................................................................
Trainer Name: ..............................................................................................
Date of Subject: ...........................................................................................
Please complete this guide as per your trainer’s instructions. Your trainer will
review your progress and sight the instrument for assessment purposes. Once
complete, please upload to eGrad for record-keeping.
We recommend students retain their guide as a reference tool for future interview
preparation, particularly the WIL placement (‘internship interview’).
1 | Preparation Guide | 20180201 v1.0 AIS IPG © Performance Education 2017

Day 2 – Interview Skills in Practice
Activity 2.7: Interview Preparation and Practice
1. “Can you tell me a bit about yourself?”
Provide a 45 to 60 second response that follows a clear structure: Origin –
Education – Work Experience - Overcoming Obstacles – Strengths – Ambitions.
Personal Details. Example: Where are you from? When did you come to Australia?
Why did you come?
Hi, I am (student’s name). I am from (student’s origin country). I came to Australia in the year () for the
purpose of completing my higher studies.
a) Facts. Education and Qualifications (including achievements)
I have completed the bachelor degree in accountancy in the year (). I have completed my schooling from
(School name) and then shifted to Australia for completing my bachelors.
b) …and any work experience in Australia (including achievements)
Previously, I have worked in a retail organization of Australia as an accountant. I have a a ork experience of
2 years.
c) Three key strengths that match the job advertisement.
2

As per my opinion, one of my strengths is my time management skills. I prefer to prioritize my work in order
to ensure completion of the entire task on the basis of priority. Another strength that I belie to be possing as
per the job advertisement is organization power. In the previous organization I worked, I used to keep all
the figures, data as well as paperworks in an organized way. Effective communication skill is my anther
strength. This enables me to communicate effectively with the clients and understand their needs efficiently.
2. “Why do you want to work for our company?”
This video clip gives tips on how to best answer this question before writing your
own answer below: Interview Skills – Why do you want to work here?
Professional expert answer (Antony Stagg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Hk19u89A0
The growth of your organization is one of the reasons behind my desire to join your company. I have gone
through Industry magazines a well as news articles along with the annual reports of the Jeanwest Company
to see how the market share of the organization have grown over a highly limited amount of time. I have a
experience of 2 years in this sector and I have been one of the top achievers exceeding all targets. Along
with the mentioned factors, I also want to join your company since I believe in the company values ad
contribution to the team, clients as well as community.
3. “What are your key strengths?”
The interviewer wants to know what you are particularly good at and how this would
fit into the role. Choose a few of your key strengths that are required for the role and
give examples of how you have demonstrated them successfully in the past.
3 | Preparation Guide | 20180201 v1.0 AIS IPG © Performance Education 2017

My three key strengths that I believe have impose positive impact on my career as an accountant includes
organization skill, time management skills and communication skill. An accountants need to keep all the
figures, paperwork and data in their daily jobs. Secondly, accountants also need to make strategic decision
and handle multiple tasks at the same time. My time management skills help me to prioritize my tasks and
make the most from the time of work. Effective communication skill is my anther strength. This enables me
to communicate effectively with the clients and understand their needs efficiently.
4. “What are your weaknesses?”
Watch the following video clip, which gives tips on how to best answer this question,
and then create your own answer below.
Interview tip: "What is your biggest weakness?" (Firebrand Talent)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyj2PCWHPHc
“In the past, I struggled slightly with…..
In the past, I struggled slightly with a large group of people.
However, I’m good at….
. However, I am really strong at speaking to smaller groups of people. I am really good at building rapport with
people one on one
The way I’ve tried to overcome this weakness is by…
In order to overcome the weakness, I spent time with my colleagues who are really good at it. Recently, in fact
I did a presentation to a team that worked in another office of ours to a large group of people.
(Then give a concrete example of a time when you overcame this weakness)
4

5. “Why should we hire you for this role?”
a. Choose a key task feature that you are good at
I have an experience of 2 years and while working in the previous organization, I have developed the skill of
preparing account and tax returns within the stipulated deadline. I will definitely prove myself as an asset for
the organization if given a chance.
b. Choose a key quality and highlight it
One of my key qualities as an accountant includes negotiating the terms of business deals and moves with
clients and associated organizations.
c. Choose a key added benefit outside the job advertisement and highlight it
Along with the above mentioned skills, I am also good at financial forecasting and risk analysis.
6. Behavioural Question: “Tell me about a time when you achieved an
important goal.”
Situation – Provide context by using a real-life situation you’ve faced.
While working in the previous organization, I initiated an income and expense flux
analysis for the first working day of the month.
Task/Objective…..or Obstacle – Explain the issues or define the problem.
5 | Preparation Guide | 20180201 v1.0 AIS IPG © Performance Education 2017

The expanse flux analysis for early identification was posting errors.
Action - What actions did you take?
I accelerated the month end close to the tenth calender day of every month
Results – What were the results of these actions?
Finally, the errors stopped showing and more appropriate calculation of the
revenue and profit of the organization was detected.
7. Situational Question: “How would you handle a customer who isn’t happy
with your service even though you’ve done nothing wrong?”
Remember to use the second conditional correctly when answering situational
questions.
6

First of all, I will apologize for the dissatisfaction of the client. Then I will politely let him or her know that we
have performed the task as per the requirements of the client and since it is not our fault we will require
extra effort to deal with the issue.
8. “Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?”
Have a clear and definitive goal.
The interviewer wants to see if you plan to work for them for a long period of time; as
they likely want someone to settle, stay and get a good return on their investment in
training. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you’ll stay and you’re a committed
prospective employee. Do not say “I want to sit in your seat!” Try to strike a balance
being between ambitious but not too over-confident.
For example:
‘If successful, I would like to initially learn as much as possible about the role I’m in.
It’s important to me to gain the respect of my peers, to know I’m doing a great job
and becoming a reliable professional and dependable employee. I would also like
opportunities to develop my skills and work further towards a higher position in the
company’
7 | Preparation Guide | 20180201 v1.0 AIS IPG © Performance Education 2017

I will like to initially learn as much possible from my urgent job role. My first aim to gain respect from my
peers along with becoming a reliable professional and dependable employee. If successful, I would like to
be promoted as a senior accountant.
9. “Have you got any questions for us?”
Watch the following video clip, which provides tips on how to answer this question.
Then write three possible questions in the space below.
Interview questions: Do you have any questions for us? (Education Fundas)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoTh0klxdqk
Also, look at the following website which gives you the ‘Top 12 best questions to ask
at the end of the job interview’ - http://biginterview.com/blog/2011/08/best-questions-
to-ask-end-interview.html
8

1. I am really interested to know the expectations of the company from me as a employee. This will
help me to meet the same in the long run.
2. In my past role I was leaned on heavily to provide leadership to a team of individuals, which I felt
was an area that I succeeded in. What are the main responsibilities I would have that would require
an elite level of leadership and could you see my past experience as a team leader benefiting me?
3. Can you walk me though a typical day here at Jeanwest company?
9 | Preparation Guide | 20180201 v1.0 AIS IPG © Performance Education 2017