1. The
Pre-Interview Test
Please review the Candidate Interview Guide prior to the meeting with your placement consultant. You and your recruiter will
complete the following exercises during your interview.
Watch Your Body Language! Important Things to Remember:
The handshake: It’s your first encounter with 1. Don’t read too much into the way an interviewer
the interviewer. He holds out his or her hand responds to your answers – some people – especially HR
and receives a limp, damp hand in return -- professionals have great “poker faces”. Always act as if
not a very good beginning. Your handshake
things are going excellent.
should be firm -- not bone-crushing -- and
2. Always project a “positive” image. Don’t talk negatively
your hand should be dry and warm. Try
running cold water on your hands when you about past employers or position responsibilities. You
first arrive at the interview site. Run warm can justify your decisions without “bashing” anyone.
water if your hands tend to be cold. The 3. Smile when responding – even if you have to force yourself
insides of your wrists are especially sensitive or think it’s silly – do it - it affects the tone and quality of
to temperature control. your voice.
4. Never ask about hours, compensation or benefits in the
Your posture: Stand and sit erect. We’re not interview.
talking “ramrod” posture, but show some 5. Fill out the worksheet on the next page this will help to
energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture refresh your memory about your past accomplishments
looks tired and uncaring. Check yourself out
before you get asked the questions. You won’t have to
in a mirror or on videotape.
appear to be “digging” for answers.
Eye contact: Look the interviewer in the 6. THE MONEY QUESTION – If you get asked about your current
eye. You don’t want to stare, as this shows compensation – answer honestly and accurately – don’t
aggression. Occasionally, and nonchalantly, hedge. Make sure to include all the things that make up
glance at the interviewer’s hand as he is your compensation – Base, Bonus, Vacation, 401K, Stock
speaking. By constantly looking around the options. When they ask what your looking for in an offer
room while you are talking, you convey a – tell them you don’t have a “hard” number in mind but
lack of confidence or discomfort with what is that you hope to improve on your current compensation
being discussed. and leave it at that…if you lock yourself into a number that
is the number they will use for any offer or consideration
Your hands: Gesturing or talking with your
when weighing candidates.
hands is very natural. Getting carried away
6. Lastly – and this is VERY IMPORTANT – please contact
with hand gestures can be distracting. Also,
avoid touching your mouth while talking. me immediately after you leave the interview. Please be
Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the prepared to answer the following questions:
phone. Chances are you are probably using
some of the same gestures in an interview. • Why do you feel you can do this job?
• Why do you feel you want this job?
Don’t fidget: There is nothing worse than • What about the company/position is attractive to
someone playing with his or her hair, clicking you?
a pen top, tapping a foot or unconsciously • What red flags came up as a result of your interview?
touching parts of the body. • What questions do you still want answered?
• Do you want to continue the interviewing process for
Preparing what you have to say is important,
this position?
but practicing how you will say it is imperative.
The nonverbal message can speak louder
than the verbal message you are sending.
Creative Financial Staffing
Managed by professional accounting firms
© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.
www.cfstaffing.com

2. Review Achievements
Your Personal
Please complete the following section as it will help in our discussion.
REVIEWING YOUR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVMENTS
Start with your most recent Employer – focus on the issues that will relate to this position.
Company: ___________________________________ Position: ____________________________________
List your Accomplishments/Achievements List the strategy, implementation, and processes
while working at this position : you used to bring about these results:
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Company: ___________________________________ Position: ____________________________________
List your Accomplishments/Achievements List the strategy, implementation, and processes
while working at this position : you used to bring about these results:
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Company: ___________________________________ Position: ____________________________________
List your Accomplishments/Achievements List the strategy, implementation, and processes
while working at this position : you used to bring about these results:
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Creative Financial Staffing
Managed by professional accounting firms
© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.
www.cfstaffing.com

3. The
Pre-Interview Test
Be prepared to have 1. Tell me about yourself.
answers to the following 2. What do you know about our company?
questions: 3. Why do you want to work here?
4. Why are you looking to change positions?
5. Tell me what you consider to be your strengths and what you
consider to be your weaknesses?
6. How much money do you want?
7. What do you like most about your current job (or manager)?
What do you like the least?
8. Where do you see yourself in five years?
9. What is the best thing that your boss will say about you? What
is the worst?
10. Name five (5) adjectives that you would use to best describe
yourself?
Questions you should 1. Could you tell me about the growth plans for the company
be asking during your (department)?
2. What are the greatest challenges I will face in this position?
interview:
3. What skills do you feel are important to be successful in this
position?
• To reconfirm strengths: “That is very interesting. Let
me tell you about my background and what I have done
as a professional that has prepared me so well for this
position.”
• Overcoming a weakness: “How important is that skill to this
job?”
4. Tell me about your background; why did you join this
company?
5. Is there anything in my background or experience to prevent
you from considering me as a viable candidate?
6. “What else can I do to get an offer from your company?” (if a
single decision-maker); or “Are you personally comfortable
recommending me for this position?” (when it is a committee
decision).
Creative Financial Staffing
Managed by professional accounting firms
© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.
www.cfstaffing.com