Applying for the Job

• Study the job description and try to ensure your CV brings out the skills required.
• Make it easy for the recruiter to find what they want.
• Use a standard font, avoid too much bold or underlined detail.
• Use confident language
• Check for spelling and grammar errors.
• Ensure the dates given for college or work experience are correct. Try to start with your most recent work experience and work backwards, as often your most recent work experience is most relevant.
• Be sure to include your personal details, work experience, skills and achievements, Skill Like your have expertise in Accounting, so you can add Payroll Agency, Tally, Bookkeeping and more accountancy related skills and including software experience.
  

The Interview

At Bank of Scotland (Ireland) we conduct Competency Based Interviews, where we ask you to give us specific examples to demonstrate the skills required for the role. Typical questions may start with “Tell me about a time when…”

This style of interviewing allows you to best show how you demonstrate certain skills in the workplace based on your previous work or academic experience. You will be assessed on around 4 skills and the best way to answer these questions is to provide a clear, specific and real life example to each question. Try to identify the key skills that are needed for the job and then try to anticipate the questions that might be asked. Then think about some sample answers of how you have demonstrated these skills in your previous work or college experiences and be able to explain these fully, describing firstly the situation, what you did and why, and the outcome.

Preparing for the Interview

• Preparation is important. Research the Company, the role on offer and the Industry.
• Ensure that you know the date, time and place of the interview.
• Know your CV and be able to discuss it accurately and in detail.
• Review the job on offer and ensure that it is a position that you are interested in, and be able to explain why.
• Identify the skills and traits that are likely to be assessed at the interview and specific experiences that can demonstrate these skills.
• Make a list of the things you want to bring out that will sell you to the company.
• Anticipate the questions you may be asked.
• Prepare some questions that you would like to ask about the job and us.
  

The Day of the Interview

• Be punctual. Make sure you have contact details of the person you are meeting, in case of any delays.
• First impressions are important. The dress code for interviews in BOSI is business attire. Your look needs to be professional and appropriate.
• Be positive. Show you’re enthusiastic about the position and the company.
• Be clear and concise. Answer the question that is being asked to the point and in a way that the interviewers will easily follow and understand. Don’t be afraid to take some time to think about your answer if you need to, and don’t rush your responses.
• Listen carefully to what you are told about the company and the job. You can use this knowledge to ask some good questions and to show your enthusiasm and understanding of the role.
• Non-verbal communication is as important as verbal. Pay attention to eye contact, posture, appearance, gestures, facial expressions, and don’t forget to smile!
• Avoid over-familiarity.
• Offer a firm handshake to the interviewers on introduction and before leaving the room.