The hardest interview question….

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    Topic
  • #189602

    I think the hardest question is….

    What industries are you interested in working in?

    This is because I have no idea, but also don’t want to seem demanding if I do pick one. It really seems like this is a lose-lose question, where you can’t win.

    Any experience/advice on this?

    AUD - 84
    BEC - 88
    FAR - 81
    REG - 79
    If I passed so can you!!
Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #615349
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    At my successful Big 4 office interview last Friday, I was asked “What part of tax do you want to specialize in? (i.e. BTS, multi-state, GES, etc).” I told him, “I don't know enough about each one to give a definite answer at this point.”

    Sometimes people worry too much about what you think they wanna hear instead of telling them the honest truth. I attribute some of my success to the fact that I came off as genuine. I said ‘I don't know' when I truly didn't know.

    #615350
    jeff
    Keymaster

    My least-favorite interview question: “Describe some of your weaknesses”.

    Well duh, I don't have any 🙂

    Most off-the-wall question: “How many McDonald's are there in the United States?”

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #615351

    I was once asked in an interview, “If you were a pencil and you were stuck inside a blender, how would you get out?” I am almost positive my response got me the job 🙂

    A - 89 10/23/2014
    R - 90 2/27/2014
    F - 75 5/25/2014
    B - 83 8/28/2014

    #615352
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    uhart-

    You can't end that post like that.

    What was your answer?

    #615353
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    I was asked who my favorite cartoon character is and why…

    I answered Optimus Prime because he was a good leader and powerful, and my childhood hero… Lol

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #615354
    stoleway
    Participant

    @Uhartsoccer21…I bet it's only Google that ask questions like that

    REG -63│ 84!!
    BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
    AUD- 75!
    FAR- 87!

    Mass-CPA

    #615355
    cool_kid
    Participant

    Yea Peanut Butter is Good I have the same issue as well. I'm not really sure what industry I'd be interested in considering I haven't had any experience with any. At the same time, if you're unsure and don't pick anything they might think you're indecisive or not interested. When I was talking to an E&Y recruiter and she asked me which location I would be interested in working in, I said I was fine with either office. She didn't seem to like that I didn't have a strong preference for a specific office and now I'm hesitant to say I'm not sure or don't know when asked these type of questions.

    #615356
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    “tell me about yourself”

    #615357
    MydnightDarkfyre
    Participant

    From my experience, they really just want to know if you have a preference…

    “I've been interested in Oil and Gas my whole life!”

    or

    “Well, Banking and Insurance fascinate me”

    As far as the office preference…at least here at my big four they want to know if you want to work at your “school” office (the one closest to your university) or your “home” office (the one closest to your parents if you are an out of state student).

    Neither of these questions are meant to trick you, I promise 😉

    FAR: 82 (Becker) 07/09/2014
    AUD: 80 (Becker) 10/01/2014
    BEC: 76 (Becker) 11/26/2014
    REG: 82 (Becker) 02/16/2015

    GA Licensed CPA 8/7/2015

    CISA: 564 (PASSED) 6/11/2016 - Certification pending

    #615358
    LKD CPA
    Member

    “How many quarters does it take to equal the height of a 10-story building?”

    I asked for paper and worked it out. As each story is approximately 12 feet (10 x 12 = 120 feet). Each quarter is approximately 1 inch. For 120 feet, calculate the number of total inches 120 feet x 12 inches = 1,440 inches or 1,440 quarters. I asked what the correct answer was at the end of the interview and was told:

    “The correct answer is asking the question: are the quarters stacked or lined side by side?”

    SMH. Didn't get the job.

    FAR: 74, 83
    REG: 76
    BEC: 77
    AUD: 89

    #615359
    StephAV
    Member

    I got asked what my favorite website is… I wanted to say another71.com, but I thought then they might come on the forum and find me. So I said some lame mommy blog that I really do love, but dude, talk about not cool.

    FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
    BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
    AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
    REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
    I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

    #615360
    tomq04
    Participant

    “Do you know, or are you remotely familiar with an internet poster with the handle of ‘Skynet'?”

    REG- (1) 76
    FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
    AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
    BEC- (6) 75

    #615361
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Interviewer: “Please tell me about yourself.”

    Bill Brasskey: “I once scissor-kicked Angela Lansbury.”

    #615362
    tomq04
    Participant

    Interviewer: “Please tell me about yourself.”

    Me: “BILL BRASKEY WAS AT MY WEDDING, PER USUAL HE GOT DRUNK, MADE AN EPIC TOAST AND DANCED WITH MY WIFE, AND BY DANCE I OF COURSE MEAN HE MADE SWEET BEAUTIFUL LOVE TO HER IN THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN.”

    Got that job after the interviewer told me some other interesting Braskey stories.

    REG- (1) 76
    FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
    AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
    BEC- (6) 75

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