Beat the Odds With a Successful Interview

What are the chances you'll get the accounting position you interviewed for? According to a recent survey, about one in five. Chief financial officers (CFOs) polled said they interview an average of five applicants for a job opening before making a final hiring decision.

The survey was developed by temporary staffing service firm AccounTemps. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with more than 20 employees.

CFOs were asked, "On average, how many candidates are interviewed for an opening in your accounting department before the position is filled?" The mean response was five.

"Companies may receive dozens of resumes for open positions, from which they must narrow the field to a few qualified candidates who will be called for interviews," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies. "Typically, these finalists are all strong contenders for the position."

Messmer added, "To set themselves apart, job seekers must focus as much or more on making a favorable impression during the interview as they do in preparing their resumes." He offers the following tips:

• Avoid rushing the process — Take your time when you enter the office, and greet the hiring manager with a warm smile and a handshake. Wait for an invitation before taking a seat.
  

• Let the real you shine through — Don't be afraid to be yourself. Most employers like to come away from an interview with at least a general sense of your personality.
  

• Tone down the charm — Don't overdo a good thing. If you focus too much on winning the interviewer over, you will appear insincere.
  

• Keep it simple — Avoid lengthy replies to questions. Your responses should be brief, clear and to the point. Instead of trying to fill the silence, let the interviewer ask the next question.
  

• Show them how good you are — If things go well, volunteer to do something — solve a problem, write a report, work a day for free — that will demonstrate your interest and initiative and let the interviewer know you have what it takes to do the job.

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