Beware of recruitment scams currently targeting jobseekers. Click here for more details.
When interviewing for an Insolvency job, there are a few areas that you will need to consider to ensure you are well prepared and the process goes the best possible way for you.
Discuss your Personal Case Experience
Be sure to refer back to your specific involvement in the case. Detailing the scenario is important but always highlight your points of involvement, whether that be contacting stakeholders, drafting reports, valuing assets or chasing debts. By not drawing attention to this, the interviewer may not be aware of your personal skill set.
Research the Interviewers
Doing your research on the Company is a given but it always helps to do research on your interviewers. There are numerous reasons for this; it provides further topics of discussion, shows your interest in them and that you have taken extra initiative. For you, it may give an idea of the type of work that you may undertake should you work for the employer.
Don’t Rule Yourself out of the Role
Employers recruit for their immediate requirement as opposed to a position that they expect to have in the coming months/years. Be careful not to stress too much about your future ambitions or it could be misconstrued that this is what you are presently looking for. Employers will appreciate that you may have an idea of where you want to be in a few years’ time and you can share your aspirations but the phrasing is important. Focusing purely on this could mean potentially ruling yourself out if they feel you are using the job as a stop-gap.
Qualifications
All firms operate differently, some provide study support whilst others don’t. In general, a lot of Accounting firms offer study support and this can include Accountancy or Insolvency specific exams i.e. CPI/ICAEW Certificate/JIEB, ACA/ACCA. Ideally, you will know what study support you are looking for in order to progress your career. Do your research before the interview and look into whether the company offers this. If the firm doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, then this may become a stumbling block depending on its importance to you.
Questions
Asking questions shows your interest and engagement with the job role and the company you are interviewing for, so it is important that you have some to ask. You should consider questions about the role, the firm and a few commercial queries. This can include:
The firm’s vision/growth plans?
Questions on any recent developments they have i.e. mergers, new partner appointments?
What will your day-to-day role involve?
What keeps them (the interviewer) at the firm?
Opportunities for progression?
“What would be expected of me in the first 6 months to be successful in this role?”
When having an Insolvency interview it is important that you consider all the point outlined in this article in order to feel fully prepared. If you would like further advice on any of the points outlined or have questions on interviewing as a whole, please feel free to get in contact with the team: insolvency@ambition.co.uk