Highly influential: interviews - the highs and lows

Yet we all have to endure it: whether a butcher, baker or contestant on the fifth series of The Apprentice – and for those recently qualified, you are going to have to go through it if you want that job.

Why is it though that so many accountants fail at the first hurdle? Time and time again, the same mistakes are made: ill-prepared for questions (‘Why do you want to work here?’ – ‘I live close’); arriving late (‘Who would have thought Canary Wharf would be so hard to find?’); and no understanding of the company (‘So Sam, what do you know about us?’ – ‘You’re an accountancy firm’).

Regardless of how technically brilliant you are, you will need to come across as someone with a whole package of skills to make an impression. Too often accountants fail to acknowledge that although a good CV and exams play their part, how you present yourself at interview can mean the difference between being shown your new desk and being shown the door.

It is often said that at a first meeting, your interviewer will form an impression of you within 15 seconds - so no second chances. Unfortunately, nerves often creep in during the interview. Remember to relax and try to engage in conversation with whoever is interviewing you. The aim should be for a relaxed, informal dialogue, not a simple question and answer session. They simply want to find out if they can work with you, so don’t be afraid of showing a bit of personality.

As you enter, make immediate eye contact with your interviewer(s), smile and shake hands firmly.

The answers you give should be kept short and to the point, particularly on the topics on which you are unsure.

A pause before you respond also helps the flow as it gives you the chance to prepare an answer and prevents you interrupting the interviewer. Don’t be afraid of silences – up to five seconds is fine. This will stop you rambling on and keep your flow of answers controlled.

If you don’t know the answer to something, it is more powerful to say ‘I don’t know’ and then offer a perspective rather than rambling on. Look the interviewer in the eye and then holding the pause shows honesty and considerable strength of character.

With all this in hand, you will be in a stronger position to climb the next rung of the ladder. Good luck.

Jack Downton is MD of The Influence Business