| The best bit of advice you can offer anyone going for | | | | It is impossible to avoid tough questions; though as |
| a finance job interview is to be prepared. The time you | | | | many financial job interviews are similar there are |
| put into preparation will have a direct relationship with | | | | plenty of things you can bear in mind to avoid any |
| how well you perform in the interview and how likely | | | | unnecessary heart ache. It's usually safe to assume |
| you are to get the job. | | | | the interviewers might adopt a "good cop/bad cop" |
| Firstly, find out as much about the company as you | | | | dynamic even if it isn't deliberate. By expecting this you |
| can in advance. The more you know about the | | | | can learn to respond to questions in they way the |
| potential employer the better. You can never know | | | | interviewer will expect and show how capable you |
| too much and it will help in two ways. You will show | | | | are of dealing with difficult people. |
| you are an observant individual with an outwardly | | | | If you aren't sure how to answer a tough question, ask |
| looking understanding of the industry and the | | | | a follow up question. It will show a keen-ness to |
| knowledge you have learnt will show you know what | | | | answer the question but buy you a little more thinking |
| you are talking about. Secondly it will also show that | | | | time. If you still don't know the answers they want to |
| you have researched the company. This time | | | | hear don't be afraid to admit it. It can look much worse |
| commitment of the research also shows how keen | | | | if you answer incorrectly than admitting you don't |
| you are on the position. Any recruiter is always going | | | | know. |
| to appreciate pro-active candidates who show that | | | | If you are facing a tough round of questioning in your |
| they are keen to get the job. | | | | job interview it's easy to ramble and forget to actually |
| Think in advance what questions they are likely to ask. | | | | answer the question. So be careful not to lose your |
| Many financial job interviews follow a similar pattern, so | | | | thread. If they notice you aren't actually answering their |
| think ahead about what they might ask. Draw up a | | | | questions they will think you are at best evasive and at |
| mind map using both you CV and the job | | | | worse out of your depth. |
| advertisement to decide topics. You won't need | | | | There is plenty to be gained from asking good |
| scripted answers but the more time you have to think | | | | questions in job interviews, it will show you are |
| about answers the more likely you answer is to be | | | | interested in the role and show you are curious to |
| what they are looking for. A few bullet points will give | | | | learn more. One good question to ask is about what |
| you a head start over the other less well prepared | | | | they think the best and worse aspects to the job role. |
| candidates. | | | | Asking questions like this enable you to gain a better |
| Visualise your success. You can never underestimate | | | | understanding of the role. |
| the power of positive thinking. The worst that can | | | | Another good and unusual question to ask is about the |
| come out of a financial job interview is you don't get | | | | company's work culture. It shows you have an |
| the job. You didn't have a job when you entered the | | | | understanding of the work environment you feel most |
| room so it shouldn't be the end of the world if you | | | | comfortable in. Similarly it shows a desire to |
| leave the room without it. Understanding this and | | | | understand more about the company beyond the jobs |
| assuming you will do well can work wonders. | | | | description. |