5 Things to Know Before Your Interview

The recruitment process can require a lot of work—between career fairs, applications, school work, and interviews. If you’ve been granted an interview, you’ve been putting in the hard work for that rewarding position you’ve been looking for. It’s exciting to get to the interview phase, but the hard work isn’t over yet. Now it’s time to prepare yourself. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll put yourself ahead of the competition. 

1. Come prepared

There are many things you can do to properly prepare yourself for your office interview that will help you stand out as a candidate. Taking time to research the firm (company website and social media profiles) and your interviewers shows you’re serious about this opportunity and a self-starter—this will go far in the eyes of your interviewers. You should also prepare yourself to respond to frequently asked. There’s no need to memorize a scripted response—just have some focused talking points that will convey your strengths.

Even simpler, but sometimes overlooked, preparations include routing your trip and travel time to the office, locating the parking garage, printing your resume, packing paper and a pen, and getting a good night’s rest.

2. Dress to impress

We are all familiar with the general rule—it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. Your interviewers will be dressed somewhere between “business professional” and “business casual,” wearing slacks, button down collared shirts, a dress/shirt option, and appropriate dress shoes. Remember to pick dress clothes that are appropriate, but still comfortable. 

3. Be confident and be yourself

Interviews can be nerve-racking, but don’t let nervousness limit you from exhibiting your confidence and personality. By being sure of yourself and your accomplishments, it shows you believe you are the best fit for the position—something you want your interviewer to notice! Showing off your personality opens up the opportunity for you to make a connection with your interviewer, which helps your interviewer picture you fitting in with the firm. 

4. Cover the details

When discussing your work experience, school involvement/activities, strengths, etc., it’s important to reinforce your experience with examples. For instance, if you’ve attended a Summer Leadership Program or been involved with an accounting honors society, highlight particular takeaways you gained from those experiences or contributions you made.

Don’t have much to show? Don’t stress. If you’re applying for an internship, your interviewer expects that you might not have a lot of practical experience.

5. Ask questions! 

Have a few questions prepared—write them down. There is a wide array of topics you could ask about, like about the firm culture, the accounting industry, or the internship opportunity. We look for interns ready to make the most of this learning opportunity by asking questions and gaining knowledge from our experienced professionals.

Asking questions is a great opportunity for you to show interest in a long-term career in accounting. For example, you can ask for advice about master’s programs, the CPA, audit vs. tax, etc. 

About us

R?dl & Partner, a leading global professional services firm, provides you integrated audit, legal, tax and business consulting solutions from its 111 wholly owned subsidiaries in 51 countries. You benefit from a single point of contact approach which is designed to meet and exceed the needs of your domestic and globally operating businesses. Since our 1977 formation in Nuremberg, Germany we have grown to more than 4,700 entrepreneurial professionals worldwide working with your success in mind.

R?dl & Partner USA

We have specifically tailored our accounting, auditing, tax and business consulting services to the unique needs of your foreign owned business in the United States of America. For more than 40 years our core practice has been serving the accounting and tax needs of primarily German speaking and other foreign owned companies operating in the U.S. Our headquarters is located in Atlanta, GA. We have six other offices in Birmingham, AL, Charlotte, NC, Chicago, IL, Greenville, SC, Houston, TX and Manhattan, NY.

R?dl & Partner USA is always looking for dynamic people to join our firm. Are you interested in interning next year? Look for us on campus this upcoming spring, or reach out to firm recruiter, Nicole Himler at [email protected]. To learn more about our firm, visit our website at https://www.roedl.com/us/