Harvey John
Unit 2 Ferry Wharf
Hove Enterprise Centre
Basin Road North
Portslade, East Sussex
BN41 1BD
On the one hand, securing your first professional role post-graduation is one of the hardest job application processes you’ll ever do because the competition is so fierce. On the other hand, it’s one of the easiest because the focus is purely on you!
Remembering these points will make all the difference in your interview:
- Research – know the role you are interviewing for. Think about the traits and behaviours you feel are required to be successful in the role. No excuses for not researching the company or people who’ll be interviewing you.
- Preparation – think about the types of questions you’re likely to be asked and prepare your answers. Are there group exercises, assessments or a presentation?
- Sell yourself – be in no doubt that there will be competition for the role. Be prepared to sell yourself to the role and to the business. Don’t go overboard, no one likes a showoff! Be concise and avoid irrelevant information.
- Appearance – dress accordingly. Don’t forget the shoe polish or the iron!
Oh, and don’t be late (or too early).
Preparation | Preparation | Preparation
When you’ve done all that, all you have to sell is you! Easy right?
For more in-depth advice on ways to prepare for the interview you’ve secured, view our blog ‘interview advice for Graduates’.
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Sound career advice. Always under 200 words.
David Waddell is Managing Director at Harvey John.
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Author

Alongside his commercial responsibilities, David manages the Public Practice division working with boutique practices as well as leading regional and national accountancy firms. He also recruits for commercial senior finance roles with clients ranging from multinational organisations to private equity backed businesses experiencing high growth.