Preparation is key when you’re in the midst of an interview process. It’s an opportunity to showcase your experience and discuss how you could be the best fit for the role you want.

But have you thought about what your key takeaways from the interview will be?

In advance of the interview, consider what information isn’t given in the job description or what you would like to learn about the business. What are the insights you need to get during the interview to gain a better understanding of the team you could potentially join?

Questions are personal to each individual, but here are some suggestions for what you might like to ask during your next interview…

How many people are in the tax function?

Generally speaking, the bigger the tax function the more specific or specialised your duties will be.

Where are the decisions made?

If decisions are made where you will be based, it’s more likely that you will gain commercial insights and exposure to key executives.

How much reliance is there on advisors?

If there is an option to rely on advisors for compliance or complex technical queries, this may offer you time to spend on more value-added/strategic duties.

Does tax have a seat at the table?

This may seem like a big question to ask, but it will give you a sense of how involved the tax function is in decision making or figure out if tax is an afterthought for management.

Is there a defined tax strategy in place?

The majority of established businesses will have a tax strategy in place – asking this question will help you identify if the company has a proactive approach to tax planning and management.

Be curious, be thoughtful, and be strategic with your questions – an interview is always a two-way street!

More about Kate… 

Kate Flanagan is a Partner with the Tax, Treasury, and Practice area of the business, within the accounting and tax talent advisory and recruitment practice in Barden Leinster. If you want bespoke career advice, connect with Kate on LinkedIn or at kateflanagan@barden.ie

Whether you think you are a pro at interviewing or a bit rusty having been with the same business for most of your career, putting in the work before an interview is key.

Here are some of my recommendations for being prepared to put your best foot forward in an interview:

Ask the experts. 

The first bit of advice for being interview ready is to chat with your talent advisor about what they expect the format of the meeting to be. They might have an insight on the back of the initial client briefing meeting or it may be a business they work closely with where there is a particular format the client follows for an interview process. Chatting with your advisor will give you the insights you need to be interview ready. At Barden, we have spent many hours preparing talent for interviews, we have also been hiring managers ourselves within Finance, so we really do get it.

Storytelling.

Be able to tell a story about your career to date. People love stories and the goal of the interview is to draw the interviewers into yours. Giving them an in-depth breakdown of your CV (which they will likely have in front of them anyway) could lose their attention and it doesn’t tell them anything new. Whereas telling your career story to date, and giving an insight into your true self, experience, education, and passions will no doubt keep their attention and help you stand out.

Keep it relevant. 

Highlight key pieces of information about your experience that might interest your interviewer, particularly if it is relevant to the role you are interviewing for. These are the things they will focus on and are likely to come back to and ask you further questions about.

Do your research. 

It is really important to do your homework about the company you are meeting. What they do, what they are known for, what their financials are like, if there is anything topical in the news about them recently, etc. These people have taken time out of their day to meet you so it’s important you know some key information about their business. It’s also beneficial to research the aspects of the company and role that are most important to you, such as culture, values, business priorities etc. At Barden, we have built up close relationships with our clients over the years, putting us in a great position to give talent some additional insights on top of what’s available online.

Be authentic (and professional). 

It is impossible to build a relationship with a potential future manager if they are not seeing the real you. Doing this, while also having a professional manner is gold.

Go with the flow. 

Let the conversation flow. Feel free to ask questions and have back-and-forth conversations throughout the meeting. This will give the hiring manager an insight into your personality and what it could be like to have you as part of the team.

Back yourself. 

The interviewers have seen potential in you based on your CV and the additional information your talent advisors have shared with them. Have confidence in yourself, this is your time to shine and show them what you can bring to the table.

Enjoy it! 

This is a big opportunity for you to impress a future employer, whether it’s for this role or future opportunities in the business. Make the most of it, leave a good impression, and enjoy the conversation.

More about Caroline

Caroline Frawley ACA is a Senior Associate in the Mid-Senior Accountants division of Barden’s talent advisory and recruitment firm in Munster.

Caroline is a Chartered Accountant with over 16 years post post-qualification experience in finance functions across several organisations both in Ireland and Australia. Her extensive professional journey has equipped Caroline with a depth of knowledge about different areas of finance, cultivated through hands-on experience and diverse challenges.

At Barden, Caroline leverages her wealth of experience to offer invaluable insights and guidance to individuals she connects with. Her deep understanding of finance enables her to provide tailored advice, empowering candidates and clients alike to make informed decisions to help them realise their professional ambitions.

Get in touch with Caroline via email at caroline.frawley@barden.ie or via LinkedIn.

In today’s world, we’ve got lots of advice out there about how to nail job interviews. They cover everything from questions you might get asked to different ways interviews can go down.

But, this isn’t another one of those guides telling you the same old stuff you’ve heard a million times before. No, we’re here to talk about something that can boost your chances in any interview, no matter what job you’re going for or how nervous you might feel.

And guess what? You don’t need to cram in more study time or rehearse until you’re blue in the face. It’s actually pretty simple.

So, why bother reading on?

Well, even though what we’re about to talk about might seem basic, it’s actually super important. Here’s why you should stick around:

• This one thing is seen as both a disciplined skill and a strength.
• According to research, 4 in 10 employers would reject a candidate if they don’t bring this into their interviews.
• Even if you have close to identical experience to someone, if they have more of this than you, you can lose.
• Interview feedback is consistent and the absence of this one thing is the most common reason we hear as to why someone qualified for a role was unsuccessful.
• The presence of this can sometimes give you access to an opportunity you may not have all of the prerequisites for.

So, what is this one thing?

If you’ve guessed by now that this one thing is enthusiasm – congratulations! If not, don’t worry, this article will help you even more.

How exactly is enthusiasm defined?

Let’s break it down. Enthusiasm basically means you’re really excited and interested in something and you want to get involved in it.

Here’s how some dictionaries put it:

Oxford English Dictionary says it’s “a strong feeling of excitement and interest in something and a desire to become involved in it”. Cambridge Dictionary says it’s “a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it”.” Collins Dictionary says it’s “being really eager to be part of something you like or think is important.”

Now, here’s the kicker: all those examples they give are about work stuff. So, it’s clear that enthusiasm and work go hand in hand.

That’s why it’s crucial to bring your enthusiasm to every single interview.

How can I bring enthusiasm to an interview?

Some simple ways you can do this (while still being true to yourself) are:

1. When talking through your experience…relate this to your ‘why’ you are interviewing for this particular role/with this particular company. E.g.: As you can see from my CV, in my most recent role I have been part of a large implementation project and this was when I felt most excitement about the work I was doing – when I saw you were doing something similar, I felt compelled to learn more and see if this is something, I could get involved in…
2. Choose examples you’re proud of and own these…Whether you solved a particularly challenging problem or built a macro to save you or your team 2 hours per week on a task or led the initiative for your office to go paper-free or to ‘go green’, your involvement in something you’re proud of will mean that your passion will come across more naturally and you will have more enthusiasm and energy when speaking about them.
3. Ask questions throughout. Show you’re engaged…If you give an example of how you do something/how you solved a problem – ask them about their processes, ask them how they got around a problem – this shows interest and also shows that you’re keen to understand their business.
4. Use positive language and feeling words…Using words like passionate, inspired, compelled, proud of, excited about, energised by, motivated by, curious about…etc. there are words that will suit your natural communication style so putting a little bit of thought into this is time well-spent.
5. Ask the interviewer about the company and their own experience working there. 
6. Highlight during the meeting anything you saw/read/heard about the company that captured your interest. 
7. Reiterate your interest in the role at the end of the meeting. This is the perfect time to inject a final bit of energy and enthusiasm into your interview. Thank the interviewers for their time, mention one or two/or even more things that are key highlights for you and let them know that you’d be delighted to be considered for the opportunity.

So, there it is, one simple, quick fix for every interview that is guaranteed to get positive results.

Enthusiasm. It really is that simple!

About Tara

Tara Higgins is the Business Support & Operational Finance Partner with Barden Munster.

She is the go-to person in Barden for Operational Finance (AP, AR and Payroll- all levels), Business Support (Administration, Executive Assistants, Office Managers), Human Resources and Talent Acquisition (All Levels) and Data Analytics Recruitment.

Tara is one of Ireland’s leading talent advisory and recruitment experts supporting professional identify and map out their future career path, and partnering with clients to build world class teams.

Get in touch with Tara via email tara.higgins@barden.ie or LinkedIn.

95% of financial services professionals we spoke with did better (and felt better!) at interview because they prepared the Barden Way. The other 5% were just naturals!

Prepare properly for an interview and you will perform better at interview. Fact.

Perform better at interview and you will have a better chance of getting offered the job you want. Fact.

Interviews for financial services roles are just different. Yes you need to know how to answer competency-based questions; yes you need to know what the company does and; yes you need to have some questions prepared. That’s the vanilla stuff. But as a financial services professional you also need to know:

• What examples are best for financial services STAR/competency based answers?
• What should I research and how much should I research before the interview?
• What should I look out for on the website / financial services news from sources like Bloomberg or Reuters?
• How do I speak about my experience to make sure the Director/Manager sees the relevance?
• How do I make sure that I don’t bore the HR person with too much detail?
• What specific technical or analytical elements are relevant to this company/industry? How do I figure that out?
• What jurisdictions does this role work with and what are some of the key nuances to look out for?

….and these are only some of the things you need to know and at Barden we will help you prepare for.

Take part in an interview with Barden coaching and you will have a competitive advantage. In Barden you will get 1:1 interview coaching by financial services professionals for financial services professionals. With Barden interview advice you will have an edge on your competition. Easy.

We’re the experts in financial services recruitment in Ireland: From our offices in Dublin and Cork we work on financial services jobs at all levels, partnering with FS talent and world-class FS teams nationally.  If you’re a financial services professional seeking opportunity or an FS leader looking to attract new talent, our experts can help. So get in touch with our team today on hello@barden.ie. Simple.

When you’re looking for a job, always remember that, while your CV gets you the interview for the job, it’s the interview that will get you the job itself. When we’re hiring someone new into a firm like Deloitte, it’s crucial that they are the right fit for our firm. Skills and experience are important, but we also want to find out what motivates you—your passions, interests, and hobbies—and how they can make an impact within a firm like Deloitte, and with our clients. If you have travelled a lot, for example, this tells us that you have had different cultural experiences, and you could potentially bring these experiences with you to your new role if we decide to hire you.

Here, in the latest article from the new Barden & Chartered Accountants Ireland Career Guide 2023, Michelle Byrne, Partner in Audit and Assurance, leading the Financial Reporting Advisory team at Deloitte Ireland gives us some traps to avoid and tips to help you get ahead at interview and increase your chances of getting that new job:

Don’t Oversell Yourself

Honesty and integrity are crucial. The interviewer will soon discover if your story doesn’t match your CV and, remember, the interviewer will ask you questions based on the information contained in your CV. Your answers should be specific and include examples that demonstrate what drives you as a person and showcase your skillset. If you worked as part of a team, explain how you contributed as an individual, rather than taking personal credit for the team’s achievements.

Don’t Be Vague

Prepare a good opener and a strong closer for your interview. First and last impressions matter. When your interviewer concludes by asking you if there is anything more you want to know about the organisation, use the opportunity to talk about your ambitions. Don’t ask an obvious question when the answer is already available on the organisation’s website. At Deloitte, we’re looking for people who have ambition to grow and pursue their passions through their work. Remember, your interview is your opportunity to ask questions about your potential employer, so don’t be afraid to challenge the interviewer. Don’t give the interviewer answers you think they want to hear. Give them the answers that demonstrate the power of your story.

Don’t Be Nervous

You have been called for this interview because, on paper, you look fantastic. We always encourage our candidates to relax to ensure their confidence shines through. If you don’t appear to be confident in your own abilities, the interviewer is going to find it difficult to decide if you are the right fit for the organisation. At the same time, try not to be too over-rehearsed. I want to know about you, who you are, where you are from, and what you do in your spare time. You don’t want to be too informal, but when you are doing an interview, you are having a conversation with the interviewer as you tell your story.

Do Nail the Basics

Never neglect the basics when you’re interviewing for a new role. How you present yourself, and your body language during the interview, are both very important. Your interviewer will form an opinion of you quickly. If your interview is in-person, your initial handshake will be very telling—and you must be engaging: use direct eye contact at all times and don’t forget your posture. If you sit in a very rigid position, it can make it difficult for the interviewer to build up rapport with you during the interview, so pay attention to this. And you can never be too overdressed when you are interviewing for a professional role. Dress neatly and professionally.

Do Prepare Thoroughly

Once you’ve been invited to interview, it’s important to do your homework in advance so that you know and understand the firm you want to work with, its values and business drivers. If I’m interviewing you, I will want to see how you can demonstrate the impact you can bring to our firm. Equally, I will want to know what you want us to give you as your potential employer, and what you value among colleagues and team leaders. It’s a good idea to do a mock interview with a friend before your formal interview—not your best friend, but someone you would be a little bit nervous sharing your life story with. This will help you to relax on the day of the interview and also to anticipate questions that may take you outside your comfort zone.

Do Build a Rapport

You know there will be other candidates for the job on offer, who will have excellent qualifications and experience, but your interview is your chance to shine and set yourself apart. Try to build a rapport with your interviewer. Ideally, they should leave the encounter feeling that they know you as a person, and that your story has made an impact on them. You will have demonstrated that you share the organisation’s core values and purpose, and that you will help to drive the organisation forward.

Source: Career Guide 2023 by Chartered Accountants Ireland and Barden

Beyond the ‘weaknesses’ question, failing to give a good answer regarding your career plans is the next sure fire way to ruin a great interview. Moreover, like the ‘weaknesses’ question, we all know it’s one that could come up at any stage, so why aren’t we better at answering it?

Because it’s a silly/token question. Because I don’t know. Because anything could happen and I don’t know what they want me to say.

So what do you say?

I’d like to be in a point in my career where I can take on a more senior role, maybe with a larger team and more responsibility.

When you’ve interviewed as many people as I have, this answer is stock standard, and usually accompanied by a few ‘ahhs’, ‘umms’ and false starts. Not exactly impressive, and not giving the impression you’ve given this a great deal of thought. Sure, it tells me what you think I want to hear, without being too committed to one direction, but it leads me to one question: if this is how you go about planning your career, is this how you would go about running a department?

#1 Tailor it to the role you’re interviewing for: imagine a ‘future you’

The fact is, not many of us do have clear career plans. We might have an idea of an end goal, but rigorous, self-directed career planning, although advised, is rarely done. Most of us rely on the organisation we work with to define this for us. If this is you, and you don’t have a clear ambition, what you need to do is imagine a ‘future you’ within the context of the role you are interviewing for. What have they told you about career progression, or the people you’d be reporting to? Is there a career path already defined you could use to shape your answer? If it’s a flat organisation, with not much room for upwards progression, what potential lateral moves could you make? Is there a particular area within asset management and financial services, or outside of asset management and financial services, that you don’t have experience in and would like to develop skills in?

You’ve told me quite a lot about your career pathways. What is important for me is that I am able to build a toolkit of skills to enhance my overall performance as an asset management or financial services manager. Therefore, in 5 years, I like to think that I would have proven my value and received the opportunity to move into a leadership role in asset management or financial services, an area that I currently have limited exposure to.

#2 Take control: set your own milestones that speak to the needs of the business

Think about the role you’re interviewing for. Does it entail a 2, 3 or 5-year plan? Will long term planning be a part of the role? If it is, then ‘yourself’ in 5 years is you having delivered the objectives contained in your business plan. Tailor it to the organisation you are interviewing for and their objectives. If they are talking about long term change or business transformation, how does the role in question feed into these larger programmes, and how can you use this information to visualise the ‘future you’?

This role clearly has an important mandate, which is to support the delivery and adoption of the 3 transformation initiatives you have spoken about, which you anticipate will take 4-5 years. I would like to think that nearing the end of this period, with regular communication with my superiors, that I would be able to define my next career move, depending on the strategic priorities or needs of the business.

#3 Above all, be clear, concise and confident

Clarity and precision of thought is essential. There is little more unattractive than someone who shows a lack of ambition at interview. Even if you are ambitious, but you fluff this answer up, you will appear like you do not care, or have not given your career enough thought – which may raise serious (if unjustified) questions over your capacity as a leader. Ensure that however you decide to approach this question that you give it some serious preparation. If it’s something you feel uncomfortable with, practice it. Whether you record yourself, get your partner/friend to ask you the question, or write it out and learn it, become comfortable with your wording.

And if you give a good enough answer – it might even come true!

Need help achieving your ambitions?

Are you an asset management or financial services professional looking for help in achieving your ambitions? If so get in touch with one of our expert team at hello@barden.ie, who are ready with lots of CV, LinkedIn, interview and career advice along with cutting edge market insights.

Beyond the ‘weaknesses’ question, failing to give a good answer regarding your career plans is the next sure fire way to ruin a great interview. Moreover, like the ‘weaknesses’ question, we all know it’s one that could come up at any stage, so why aren’t we better at answering it?

Because it’s a silly/token question. Because I don’t know. Because anything could happen and I don’t know what they want me to say.

So what do you say?

I’d like to be in a point in my career where I can take on a more senior role, maybe with a larger team and more responsibility.

When you’ve interviewed as many people as I have, this answer is stock standard, and usually accompanied by a few ‘ahhs’, ‘umms’ and false starts. Not exactly impressive, and not giving the impression you’ve given this a great deal of thought. Sure, it tells me what you think I want to hear, without being too committed to one direction, but it leads me to one question: if this is how you go about planning your career, is this how you would go about running a department?

#1 Tailor it to the role you’re interviewing for: imagine a ‘future you’

The fact is, not many of us do have clear career plans. We might have an idea of an end goal, but rigorous, self-directed career planning, although advised, is rarely done. Most of us rely on the organisation we work with to define this for us. If this is you, and you don’t have a clear ambition, what you need to do is imagine a ‘future you’ within the context of the role you are interviewing for. What have they told you about career progression, or the people you’d be reporting to? Is there a career path already defined you could use to shape your answer? If it’s a flat organisation, with not much room for upwards progression, what potential lateral moves could you make? Is there a particular area within IT, or outside of IT, that you don’t have experience in and would like to develop skills in?

You’ve told me quite a lot about your career pathways. What is important for me is that I am able to build a toolkit of skills to enhance my overall performance as an IT manager. Therefore, in 5 years, I like to think that I would have proven my value and received the opportunity to move into a leadership role in IT, an area that I currently have limited exposure to.

#2 Take control: set your own milestones that speak to the needs of the business

Think about the role you’re interviewing for. Does it entail a 2, 3 or 5-year plan? Will long term planning be a part of the role? If it is, then ‘yourself’ in 5 years is you having delivered the objectives contained in your business plan. Tailor it to the organisation you are interviewing for and their objectives. If they are talking about long term change or business transformation, how does the role in question feed into these larger programmes, and how can you use this information to visualise the ‘future you’?

This role clearly has an important mandate, which is to support the delivery and adoption of the 3 transformation initiatives you have spoken about, which you anticipate will take 4-5 years. I would like to think that nearing the end of this period, with regular communication with my superiors, that I would be able to define my next career move, depending on the strategic priorities or needs of the business.

#3 Above all, be clear, concise and confident

Clarity and precision of thought is essential. There is little more unattractive than someone who shows a lack of ambition at interview. Even if you are ambitious, but you fluff this answer up, you will appear like you do not care, or have not given your career enough thought – which may raise serious (if unjustified) questions over your capacity as a leader. Ensure that however you decide to approach this question that you give it some serious preparation. If it’s something you feel uncomfortable with, practice it. Whether you record yourself, get your partner/friend to ask you the question, or write it out and learn it, become comfortable with your wording.

And if you give a good enough answer – it might even come true!

Need help achieving your ambitions?

Are you an IT professional looking for help in achieving your ambitions? If so get in touch with one of our expert team at hello@barden.ie, who are ready with lots of CV, LinkedIn, interview and career advice along with cutting edge market insights.

Beyond the ‘weaknesses’ question, failing to give a good answer regarding your career plans is the next sure fire way to ruin a great interview. Moreover, like the ‘weaknesses’ question, we all know it’s one that could come up at any stage, so why aren’t we better at answering it?

Because it’s a silly/token question. Because I don’t know. Because anything could happen and I don’t know what they want me to say.

So what do you say?

I’d like to be in a point in my career where I can take on a more senior role, maybe with a larger team and more responsibility.

When you’ve interviewed as many people as I have, this answer is stock standard, and usually accompanied by a few ‘ahhs’, ‘umms’ and false starts. Not exactly impressive, and not giving the impression you’ve given this a great deal of thought. Sure, it tells me what you think I want to hear, without being too committed to one direction, but it leads me to one question: if this is how you go about planning your career, is this how you would go about running a department?

#1 Tailor it to the role you’re interviewing for: imagine a ‘future you’

The fact is, not many of us do have clear career plans. We might have an idea of an end goal, but rigorous, self-directed career planning, although advised, is rarely done. Most of us rely on the organisation we work with to define this for us. If this is you, and you don’t have a clear ambition, what you need to do is imagine a ‘future you’ within the context of the role you are interviewing for. What have they told you about career progression, or the people you’d be reporting to? Is there a career path already defined you could use to shape your answer? If it’s a flat organisation, with not much room for upwards progression, what potential lateral moves could you make? Is there a particular area within legal, or outside of legal, that you don’t have experience in and would like to develop skills in?

You’ve told me quite a lot about your career pathways. What is important for me is that I am able to build a toolkit of skills to enhance my overall performance as a legal manager. Therefore, in 5 years, I like to think that I would have proven my value and received the opportunity to move into a leadership role in legal, an area that I currently have limited exposure to.

#2 Take control: set your own milestones that speak to the needs of the business

Think about the role you’re interviewing for. Does it entail a 2, 3 or 5-year plan? Will long term planning be a part of the role? If it is, then ‘yourself’ in 5 years is you having delivered the objectives contained in your business plan. Tailor it to the organisation you are interviewing for and their objectives. If they are talking about long term change or business transformation, how does the role in question feed into these larger programmes, and how can you use this information to visualise the ‘future you’?

This role clearly has an important mandate, which is to support the delivery and adoption of the 3 transformation initiatives you have spoken about, which you anticipate will take 4-5 years. I would like to think that nearing the end of this period, with regular communication with my superiors, that I would be able to define my next career move, depending on the strategic priorities or needs of the business.

#3 Above all, be clear, concise and confident

Clarity and precision of thought is essential. There is little more unattractive than someone who shows a lack of ambition at interview. Even if you are ambitious, but you fluff this answer up, you will appear like you do not care, or have not given your career enough thought – which may raise serious (if unjustified) questions over your capacity as a leader. Ensure that however you decide to approach this question that you give it some serious preparation. If it’s something you feel uncomfortable with, practice it. Whether you record yourself, get your partner/friend to ask you the question, or write it out and learn it, become comfortable with your wording.

And if you give a good enough answer – it might even come true!

Need help achieving your ambitions?

Are you an legal professional looking for help in achieving your ambitions? If so get in touch with one of our expert team at hello@barden.ie, who are ready with lots of CV, LinkedIn, interview and career advice along with cutting edge market insights.

The way companies are conducting interviews has changed and you can expect video interviews to be a part of the future.

In Barden we expect to, and are prepared for, much more of this over the coming months.  You should be too.

It goes without saying that the usual interview prep tips still apply, but there are a few other things you need to keep in mind when preparing for a video interview. Here Siobhán Sexton ACA, Senior Associate with Barden and expert in recently qualified accounting careers, shares our top tips for preparing for video interviews.

What Tools is a Hiring Manager Likely to use for a Video Interview?

There are lots of tools available for video interviewing including:

• Zoom
• Skype
• Microsoft Teams
• Google Hangouts
• WhatsApp

It is likely the interviewer will have a preferred technology. However there’s no doubt that Zoom is leading the pack.

It would be worthwhile asking what technology will be used, once the time and date of the interview is confirmed. Once you know their chosen tool make sure you get familiar with it.

A Little Bit More About Zoom

Simply put Zoom is video conferencing software that lets you connect remotely for video or voice-call meetings (let’s call them interviews from now on).

The hiring manager will host the interview and will invite you to join it. The invite will include a web link and access code (make sure to have these on hand when you’re logging into the video interview).

The good news is you don’t have to download Zoom to take part in the video interview. You can simply use the weblink you’re sent. You can join via your computer or phone.

Some Top Tips When Being Interviewed Using Zoom

Most of these are not exclusive to Zoom, and cover off regular phone and video interviews. However there’s a few extra pieces to keep in mind when using Zoom:

• Check out Zoom in advance. You can always sign up for a ‘free account’ to get used to the technology.
• Do a test run checking the software is working, your connection is good and you know how the video and audio work….maybe enlist the help of a family member to do a practice interview with you.
• Set up your phone or laptop…may sure it’s set at the correct height so the interviewer can see you properly (and not the top of your head, or the lovely painting hanging in your living room!
• Dress as if you were heading to the interview in person. Why? It helps to get you in the right mindset and brings an air of professionalism.
• Prepare your interview space…avoid slouching on the couch! Set up a quiet, comfortable space where there will be no interruptions. And have a glass of water at hand.
• Background noise might be an issue…especially if others are at home too. Make sure to try and eliminate any background noise…pick a quiet room, close the door (sounds obvious but something that could be easily forgotten) and wear earphones or ear pods.
• Switch off all notifications on your phone, and laptop (if you’re using one).
• Have your CV, pen and paper handy if you wish to make notes.
• Another obvious one but…make sure you’re not eating or chewing gum during the interview…remember the sound will travel!
• SMILE…smiles can be heard so make sure to smile as you talk.
• Speak slowly and clearly and watch your body language (we all have little idiosyncrasies that we’re not even aware of…it might be an idea to keep an eye for these in your practice run and rule them out in the actual call).
• Make sure to look at the camera and not the screen, as much as possible, so the interviewer does not think you’re looking down.
• Log on a few mins before the interview is due to start to make sure everything is working and you’re ready to go.
• If you experience a connection issue make sure to use the chat functionality to let the other interviewer know.
• Make sure to PREPARE…prepare properly for an interview and you will perform better at interview. Do your research so you know the company, industry, role and your own CV! Also practice and prepare competency based questions and have your answers ready.

And lastly, good luck!!

Want more interview advice?

We are experts when it comes to preparing for interview. Get in touch with us, at hello@barden.ie, for 1:1 interview coaching by finance professionals for finance professionals. With Barden interview advice you will have an edge on your competition.