Tips for that first interview

Students on the accountancy recruitment hunt may benefit from new advice being offered to those about to undergo their first professional job interview.

Research shows that 80 per cent of potential recruits have had a coughed, cried or spilt coffee on themselves during a job interview, but now Sainsbury's have revealed the results of their own investigation into what makes the perfect interviewee.

Engaging the interviewer comes top of the list, with positive body language such as smiling and a firm handshake rated as important techniques by 78 per cent and 58 per cent of those surveyed respectively, OnRec reports

The website itself recommends that wannabe employees check any social networking profiles they may have to be sure they give the right impression.

Further advice includes researching the company before the interview and paying attention to the interviewer, potential co-workers and personal appearance.

The HR Society and the Institute of Chartered Accountants recently announced they would be holding a joint event entitled Are people really our most important assets?