Inside Careers Guide to Chartered Accountancy

APPLICATIONS & INTERVIEWS
Competency-based interviews are structured
so that each question targets a specific key
skill or capability from the job specification.
You will be asked questions relating to your
behaviour in specific circumstances, which you
will need to back up with practical examples.
Try and have more than one example ready to
use in case you are asked to provide a second
example, which can happen.
To be an accountant, you have to be
exceptionally organised and able to work
to strict deadlines whilst having technical
numeracy skills and developing communication
and people skills. If you are going to be a future
leader, the earlier you start to develop these
skills, the better. Other skills employers will be
looking for are attention to detail, commercial
awareness and ability to work in a team.
Learn to demonstrate your skills by using the
STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method.
This means setting the scene, explaining how
you handled the situation by placing the
emphasis on your personal role and skills, and
detailing the outcome or result.
STAR Method
S: Explain the situation
T: What tasks were required of you
A: The action you took
R: The result, impact and value your
actions achieved.
Even if a company follows a different interview
format, knowing how to answer questions in
a concise way that really sells your experience
is the key to success. With practice and
preparation, the ability to structure your
answers correctly will become second nature,
allowing you to concentrate on letting your
personality and enthusiasm shine at interview.
Good preparation will also show your
commitment to the job and provide evidence
of your organisational skills.
24 Accountancy | www.insidecareers.co.uk/acc