QUESTIONS

1. Describe yourself.

Degree holder in the field of Accounting and Finance

Ex-employee at the MHC Ltd as Executive Assistant for 15 months
I have worked in many departments namely filing, corporate services, HR
and payroll and customer service as well.
I have also worked in the accounts payable department of the WTB for 2
months.
Acquired many skills namely ability to work as a team, self-discipline,
efficiency, good communication skills.

Ive chosen accounting as a career.

I am very fond of doing accounting and Ive always been passionate about it.
Looking for a post in the Accounting field.

Main Ideas:
Qualifications
Employment history
Skills acquired
Choice of career (optional)

2. Tell me about your family background and your hobbies and interests.
I come from a family of 5 persons namely my parents and my 2 sisters.

3. Why have you applied for this particular position?

I am passionate about Accounting and Finance.
These 2 key areas play a very important role in an organization and I would like to
be part of it.
I will be playing a major role in the decision making of the company
Also, you get to interact and collaborate with key persons in the organization and it
is very motivating and gives me great job satisfaction.

Because the duties and responsibilities involved as well as the working hours suit
my needs and requirements and will enable me to work whilst maintaining my
usual lifestyle.
Because this job offer is so far the best one that I have been offered as the
others did not suit my requirements
Other job offers which I have received required at least 3 years experience

4. Why do you want to work for us and not any other companies?
The job offers from the other companies did not suit my needs and requirements
(explain how)
There are unique elements in your company and this post that have attracted me.

5. Tell me about the role for which you are applying: what it entails and
what skills are required etc.
Working in the accounting and finance department entails:

The skills required are:

6. How do you explain your gap in your employment history?

I am very selective and careful as well when it comes to choosing my career path.
Je ne saute pas sur tout ce qui bouge
I was offered posts which were on a contractual basis of at least one year.
These jobs did not fit with my career path and I did not want to miss an opportunity
for one that would fit.

7. What are your strengths and how do they make you unique?
I have degree in a field that matches the job specifications and I am well-versed in
that field.
I have already been exposed to the atmosphere of work thanks to my numerous
working experiences.
I am accustomed to the elements of pressure.
Ability to work as a team.
I am able to communicate effectively at both the internal and external level.
I am a fast learner and I can adapt quickly to the working environment.
I believe in punctuality, discipline, enthusiasm at work, job satisfaction rather than
money.
The duties and responsibilities and the skills required as well in the scheme of
service do match with my previous working experience and the post which I
occupied previously at the MHC Ltd.

8. What are your weaknesses?

Lack of practical experience in working in the accounting department (I am a fast
learner and this will help me compensate)
Im not used to using accounting software that much and I will require some
training.
I was used to having a non-skeptical mind and asked few questions. (But now its
the reverse)

9. What generally motivates you to work?

The element of challenge and having to meet tight deadlines as all these will
develop myself personally and make me better.
Job satisfaction especially when other people are satisfied themselves with my work.
When rewards are linked to performance and when there is recognition for
hardwork.
Where there are prospects for future development.

10.

What is your ideal/dream job?

I always dream of getting a job where the environment and the people are
comfortable to work with.
A job where you want to wake up early in the morning and cant wait to get to work.
Where there are prospects for future development.

11.

What relevant achievement/s have you made?

Become more mature and independent.

Overcome my shyness and timidity.
Able to communicate effectively at both the internal and external level.
My good performance for my HSC final exams that has helped me secure my future
and my career as well.

12.
What significant mistake/s have you made and what have you learnt
from it/them?
Doing the tasks assigned to me in a random order. (Prioritize from most urgent to
least urgent)
Focus on quantity rather than quality because of pressure. (To focus more on quality
of the work done)
Not asking questions and waiting for others to come to me and explain to me about
everything. (Be more skeptical and ask as much questions as possible)

13.

Did you have any problems/mishaps/clashes in your previous job?

At my previous workplace, there was one guy in my department who apparently

disliked me because he was jealous of me and of the special attention which others,
esp. my supervisor gave to me sometimes.
At that time, I soon realized that if I were to ignore him and make as if nothing was
happening, we were definitely going to get stuck somewhere because we used to be
working on the same team and sometimes we even had to work together and I
noticed that each time, there were as if a barrier between us and we were not able
to communicate.
This was when I finally decided to take the first step myself and talk to him during
my lunchtime and tried to discuss the matter at hand with him. I tried to make him
aware that such an attitude from him was unnecessary as his role and contribution
was as important as mine on the team and that he should not be judging the
situation in the way he was doing.
After a very long chat, we finally came to an agreement and resolved our personal
differences and even ended up being good friends.
As from this very moment, we never had any clashes again.

14.

What are your long-term career goals/plans?

To occupy a post of higher responsibility in your company.

Maybe to become part of management.
Keep upgrading my skills so as to bring them to a higher level.

15.

If you are selected for the job, what will you do subsequently?

Try to learn as much as possible in the least possible time (from the job and my
team members).
Try to adapt as quickly as possible to the environment, its culture, processes and so
on.

16.

What can you tell me about your previous boss?

He was a very open-minded individual and that had had a very positive impact on
me.
He was a very deadline-driven person.
I have learnt a lot from him.
He has guided me and even inspired me in a lot of decisions that I have taken and
that I will take concerning my career.

Things learnt:
Never give up in life (many of lifes failures were people who were so close to
success but they gave up)
Set realistic standards rather than idealistic standards.
Dont hesitate to talk in case of any issues because either you talk or remain in
silence forever.
Be always honest at work.

17.

How would your previous boss describe you?

A hard but at the same time smart worker.

A very punctual worker as well.
A very good listener and someone who rarely required people to repeat themselves
especially when giving instructions.
A very flexible worker as I was able to work and adapt myself quickly to different
areas.

18.

How should an ideal boss look like according to you?

For me, it is very important that a boss provides limited supervision and gives a
certain degree of freedom to his employees so that they are able to take some
decisions of their own concerning their own work because definitely, no one would
be better able to understand the situation and make an informed decision than
them since they are the ones who are on the field.
Besides, this attitude encourages more flexibility amongst workers and they are
better able to use and develop their own judgment rather than adopting a
mechanical approach and only executing instructions.
But at the end of the day, a boss should monitor and review all that has been done
and also provide positive feedback as well as tactful criticism if required.
An ideal boss should also possess leadership skills to guide, motivate, encourage
and foster a positive work environment as well rather than adopting an autocratic
approach.