Common  Potential Interviewing Questions

Be sure you are well-prepared--remember, this may be your only chance to make a good impression! Being well prepared means you have the appropriate outfit, have carefully thought through your answers to potential questions, and have done appropriate research on the company. It is desirable to have done a mock interview.  You can do this easily by just giving this question list to someone and having them randomly ask you questions from it. 

Don't be alarmed if your interview just turns into a pleasant conversation that has nothing to do with accounting or "you".  The interviewer assumes that you know enough accounting if you have decent grades in UWM's accounting program.  An important part of what the interviewer is evaluating is whether they can put you in front of a client (or management in the case of private accounting) and whether you will work well with others.  It can be a very good thing if you have a great conversation about whatever--golf, the Packers, soccer, Beta, Paris, Chile, theatre!  Remember, it is much easier for you to drive a conversation that way when you are in somebody's office since you can gear it to their interests just by paying attention to the hints they give you (e.g. pictures of kids, golf club paper weights, travel pictures....).

Situational Questions - can be especially difficult if you haven't practiced.

1. Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
2. Tell me about an ethical dilemma that you faced and how you resolved it.
3. Tell me about an innovative approach that you took to accomplish something.
4. Tell me about a work situation involving a team where there was a conflict, and how you solved it.
5. Tell me how you dealt with a particularly difficult co-worker.
6. Tell me about a group project in one of your classes that went badly. How did you get things back on track?
7. Tell me the most difficult thing you ever had to do.
8. A coworker continually gossips about others. How would you handle it?
9. Your boss has treated you unfairly. How would you handle it?
10. Describe a major obstacle you've encountered? How did you overcome it?
11. Tell me about a time when you were given bad information (or misinformation). How did you handle it?
12. Did you ever have a problem with a supervisor/co-worker? How did you handle it?
13. What was the toughest job challenge you faced and how did you deal with it?
14. What has been your biggest accomplishment in the workplace?
15. Tell me about a situation at your job where you hit a wall and felt like you were stuck. What did you do?
16. Have you had to discipline workers as a supervisor, and if so, how did you discipline them?
17. Tell me about a controversy you have been involved in at your job or in your life and tell me how it made you a better person.
18. Give me an example of how you exhibited leadership.
19. Give me an example of when you needed to collect additional information to make a decision.
20. Give me an example when you had to share your knowledge and how you did it.
21. Give me an example of when you need to prioritize your tasks and how you go about it.

Questions About School

• Why did you choose your major? (Hint: Show your interest in the field. Explain why you like it.)
• Which classes did you like the most/least? (Auditing, of course J)  
• Why did you select your college? How have you liked it? (Hint: Stress your college's ability to teach your specific major)
• Has your college experience prepared you for a career? (Hint: Describe classes that were specifically related to what you will be doing in this particular job.)
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• Describe your most significant college accomplishment.
• If you could do it over, how would you plan your education differently?
• Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
• Do you plan to go to graduate school?
• Are your grades a good indicator of your potential?
• What have you learned from your extracurricular activities?

• Tell me about yourself. Or, how would you describe yourself? (Hint: Keep your answer away to one or two minutes; don't ramble. Stick to what you've written in your resume summary. To answer this question well, you'll need to start with a solid and concise resume summary.)
• What are three adjectives that describe you?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Hint: For weaknesses stay away from the answer "I work too hard." It is the most commonly given answer, and the most hated by interviewers.)
• Why should we hire you? (Hint: Because of your knowledge, perseverance, abilities, and skills)
• What got you interested in accounting?
• Why do you want to become an accountant?
• What would your last boss/coworkers/references say about you?
• What motivates you to work hard?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are you most proud of?
• What kind of environment do you work best in? (Hint: In teams, alone, with structure, w/o structure)
• How do you handle pressure?
• Would you be willing to work overtime?
• What have you learned from mistakes you've made?
• What to you see yourself doing in five years from now? Ten? Fifteen?
• What do you really want out of life?
• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Who's your hero?
• What else should I know about you?
• Tell me about your jobs/internships. (Hint: Give specific examples.)
• Written and oral communication skills are very important in accounting. What have you done that shows you have strong communication skills. For example, papers that you have written, etc.

• What do you know about this organization? (Hint: Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history, and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.)
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this organization?
• Why do you want to work for us? (Hint: Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs; You would like to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a company problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company goals.)
• What would you do for us? (Hint: What they really want to know is. . . What can you do for us that someone else can't? Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective employer. Make sure you have a strongly worded Employment History section in your resume, that you can refer to.)
• What about the job offered do you find the most attractive? Least attractive? (Hint: List three or more attractive factors and only one minor unattractive factor.)
• Why do you want to work in this industry?
• Where do you think this industry is headed?
• What do you look for in a job? (Hint: An opportunity to use your skills, to perform, and to be recognized)
• How can you make a contribution to our organization?
• How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm? (Hint: Not long at all -- you expect only a brief period of adjustment to the learning curve.)
• How long would you stay with us? (Hint: hopefully, until I am a partner (of CFO or CEO, etc.).)

Questions for you to ask during the interview

Often during the interview, especially at the end, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions.  You can use this opportunity to show how well you have researched the company. People who have researched the company, its direction, and the industry are well prepared and will stand out in the interviewer's mind. The amount of time you spend getting to know the company will translate into a perception of interest and enthusiasm. It will also help you to correlate your skills to the position in question. Your knowledge of current events will prove to the employer that you are a curious will-informed professional who keeps on top of the latest happenings, which may impact your profession. Other questions are:

• As you look at those who have succeeded at this company, what characteristics do you see they share common?
• Why is your firm one of the best to work for; what separates your firm apart
  from the others?
• What are the opportunities your organization (or industry) is facing? 
• What are the challenges your organization (or industry) is facing?
• What would you expect out of me over the next 3 to 5 years and what do you
  view as a "stretch"?
• What has changed the most in your Firm since you joined?  What do you think
  you would say if I asked the same question five years from now?
• What have you found most rewarding about working at the company?
• What kind of training do you give?
• What are the company's plans for future growth?
• How would you describe the corporate culture?
  
• What percentage of my time would be spent in the various functions you described that this job involves?
• Is it organizational policy to promote from within?
• What is a typical career path for people in this position?

Questions to ask AFTER an offer has been extended

These are helpful questions when deciding whether or not to accept an offer.

• What kind of insurance policies do you offer?
• How much vacation time would I receive in the first year, second year, etc...?
• Do you pay for overtime?
• Do you pay for continuing education?
• Do you provide programs for working mothers?
• What is the salary? Bonuses, etc...
• Do you pay for review courses and test materials for professional examinations?