How to Prepare for a Job Interview

Introduction 

Auditing is one of the major careers in the field of business. I desire to become an auditor, and, for this reason, I will conduct an interview with an auditing professional. This activity will play a considerable part in my career development. In the interview, I will focus on learning about the individual's career, his reason for choosing it, his likes and dislikes, and his certifications. I will also discuss how the lessons learned will influence my auditing career. 

Lessons Learned 

From the interview, I learned that one of the primary motivations behind choosing the auditing career is concerned with the clear sense of purpose it provides. According to the interviewee, the role of an auditor is very distinct. His role is to ensure transparent financial reporting in the entity being in a relatively large organization. Auditors in smaller organizations are tasked with ensuring that the financial records exhibit accuracy. The distinct sense of purpose allows the individual to be focused on his tasks (Bonder & Dal, 2018). Another reason to work as an auditor is the immense opportunity to learn and grow. The business environment is constantly changing due to changes in regulations, the number of business entities, and the type of operations carried out by the firms (Kaarbøe et al., 2013). In this sense, according to the interviewee, the different scenarios enable the auditor to learn different concepts. Resultantly, the dynamic nature of the profession makes it interesting for him. Essentially, the individual can take significant personal satisfaction from experiencing different challenges. 

I also learned that auditing allows the individual to build strong networks. The interviewee mentions that he meets new individuals regularly, given that he reviews the financial records of different companies as part of his duties as an external auditor. The opportunity to meet new individuals in the business field enables the auditor to have strong business connections. Another reason for choosing the auditing profession is the high level of mobility offered by the career. The interviewee asserts that the skills one obtains in the profession set up the individual for any career path. The auditor is required to be proficient in business, accounting, and finance (Smieliauskas et al., 2013). Such expertise is foundational to all enterprises and institutions. The auditor can work as a corporate finance professional, financial consultant, or business advisor. 

Concerning the likes, I learned that an auditor has the opportunity to travel to different regions and continents. The interviewee indicates he likes the trips he takes to other countries outside the North American continent. The trips allow him to meet new people and work with individuals from different cultures. In addition, he is given an opportunity to view different sites and sceneries. The auditor also likes to work with innovative individuals globally. The auditing career enables the auditor to interact with brilliant minds, given that he offers his services to huge firms in every industry. 

I also learned that an auditor works long hours in carrying out his job. The interviewee indicates that he dislikes the long hours he has to put in to ensure he completes his assigned tasks. The long working hours mean that it is difficult to maintain a social life. 

Another key lesson is about the certification required by an auditor. I learned that the auditor needs to have a bachelor’s degree in the accounting field (Smieliauskas et al., 2013). In addition, one can become a qualified auditor if he undergoes more than five days of training in the Certified Practising Accountants program. 

Relevance of Activity 

The activity related to career development is important since it provides me with first-hand information regarding what to expect in the auditing field. Essentially, it prepares me mentally and makes me better equipped to handle the expectations of an auditor. 

Influence on My Career 

The information I obtained from the interview will enable me to prepare myself better to succeed in my auditing career. For instance, the information regarding the certifications needed will enable me to identify the path that I should follow. Following the interview, I know that I should complete my bachelor’s degree in accounting and enroll in the Certified Practising Accountants program. I should complete more than 120 hours of education and training in the program to be qualified. In addition, the information from the interview is valuable in enabling me to succeed as a highly-qualified auditor. From the interview, I recognize that I will have to interact with different people from different cultures. In this aspect, I will have to improve my interpersonal and communication skills to better interact with such individuals. Moreover, the information is vital in assisting me to be an excellent auditor since I now recognize that I will need to limit my social life. In this scenario, I will be able to put in long hours in completing the tasks associated with carrying out verification and documentation procedures. 

Conclusion 

Overall, the career development activity is vital in preparing me to be better equipped for the auditing career. The activity allows me to see the big picture and, in this case, offers me an excellent opportunity to adapt successfully to the dynamic nature of the auditing work scene. 

References 

Bonder, B., & Dal, B.-H. V. (2018).  Functional performance in older adults . Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. 

Kaarbøe, K., Gooderham, P. N., & Nørreklit, H. (2013).  Managing in dynamic business environments: Between control and autonomy . Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub. Ltd. 

Smieliauskas, W. J., Bewley, K., & Robertson, J. C. (2013).  Auditing: An international approach . W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library.