A Glimpse of the Initial Interview Process

So, you’ve submitted your application, and good news, you’ve made it past the screening stage 🎉 

What comes next? It’s time for your Initial Interview.

We, recruiters, often hear from candidates at Frontline Accounting that our interview process feels warm and engaging. That’s no coincidence! Our team is committed to providing a positive candidate experience from the very beginning.

Let’s break down what you can expect.

What It Is & Why It Matters

At this point, you’ve already caught our attention on paper, and we want to learn more about you – your skills, experience, and interest in the position. Yes, we’ve read your CV, but we’d love to hear your story in your own words to help us better understand your journey. 

This is also your time to ask questions, learn about the company, and get a feel for whether this is the kind of place where you want to be. 

Think of it as a two-way street: a conversation, not an interrogation. After all, we want it to be a good fit on both sides.

What We Look For 

This is your chance to build on that great first impression you made with your CV, so how you approach your interview is important. 

We’re not expecting perfection, but we are looking for genuine interest and signs of preparation: 

1. Punctuality: Aim to enter the virtual meeting room 10 to 15 minutes early. Not only does this show respect for the interviewer’s time, but it also gives you time to settle in. 

2. Openness to Connect: Expect to spend some time developing rapport with a bit of small talk at the beginning. Simply follow the interviewer’s lead! It’s our way of easing into the conversation and making you feel more comfortable. Don’t be embarrassed if you are nervous because we consider nervousness a natural human reaction to high pressure 😉
   
3. Clear and Honest Communication: Walk us through your experience, making sure to highlight your skills and willingness to learn. Describe your strengths in terms of what you can bring to the table.

4. Authenticity: Be yourself. Lies and exaggerations will not only come back to haunt you, but they also indicate a lack of integrity and trustworthiness. Remember, integrity goes a long way in helping us see that you’d be a great addition to the team.

5. Active Listening: Listen carefully because good listeners demonstrate attentiveness. Make sure you understand the question; if not, ask for clarification. Answer completely and concisely and stick to the subject at hand.

6. Prepare Questions: As mentioned, this is a conversation. So, have some questions of your own prepared in advance. There is nothing wrong with having a list of questions and thoughts. Well-researched questions display your genuine interest in the role and the company.

7. A Strong Close: End the interview on a positive, enthusiastic note. You may ask what the next step will be, thank the interviewer for their time, or express your interest in the job before leaving with a smile.

If you're looking to brush up on your approach, we've released some articles in the past as well on how to gear up and nail interviews. Feel free to revisit those any time! 

What Happens Next 

After the interview, we know the waiting game can be tough, so we do our best to keep things moving. We aim to provide you with an update within the week of your interview schedule.

If you’re moving forward, we’ll let you know the next steps. Again, if it’s not a match this time, we’ll still reach out because we want every candidate to feel acknowledged, respected, and informed.

Yes, interviews can be nerve-wracking, but they’re also exciting – where the paper application is brought to life. And believe it or not, recruiters actually enjoy interviewing because we also learn a lot from you. 😊

With a bit of preparation and a positive mindset, you’ll walk in feeling more confident and ready to show us what you’re all about.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about this step. We’ll see you at the next one!