You have been called to the second interview for the job, congratulations!
What does this mean? You made a good first impression in your initial interview, and the company is interested in getting to know you better and is now seriously considering your application for the vacancy. However, every selection process is different for every company, and you might not know how to take on this next phase in the process.
In the following minutes, you will learn what to expect on your second interview, the difference between the first and second interviews, and what steps you can take to ace it!
What to expect on your second interview
By this point, you have had an introductory conversation with the interviewer. The employer has explained the project, the company’s goals by filling in the position, and how the team and the company work together. Your second interview is to strengthen that first impression by demonstrating your skills, experience, and knowledge about the company and its business.
Don’t expect your second interview to be like the first one. Feel free to ask your first interviewer how many people will be present and what will be the format of the interview. The second interview depends on who you will be speaking with. You could talk to the hiring manager, more members of the team you would be joining, or a high-level manager or team leader.
During the interview, make sure you are engaging with everyone in the room, not only with those that are asking the most questions. Make eye contact with everyone when answering questions. If speaking to a group of interviewers makes you nervous, make sure to practice with friends or family beforehand to be fully prepared.
How to prepare for your second interview
- Ask for the agenda
Politely ask the interviewer for the itinerary for the day in case they haven’t sent the agenda already. This way you will be aware of who is interviewing you, the length of the interview, and more relevant information like parking spaces or dress code.
- Learn about your interviewers
Usually, the agenda for the day will have the names of the interviewers too. This can allow you to do some research on your interviewers and might help when planning conversations.
- Do more research
Adding to the research you’ll be doing on the interviewers, this is the perfect time to dig deeper into the company. You want to know about their values and mission, recent news they have been involved in, their progress throughout the years, and their business operations. With this research, you will show that you are interested in being part of the company and that you are serious about it. Also, it allows you to identify if the company is truly a good fit for you too.
- Refresh your mind on the industry
Remember that the second interview is to learn more about the role and how your skills can contribute to the company. This is also the best time for the interviewer to test your industry knowledge and technical skills. The agenda should let you know the format of the interview, and this could be more of a technical interview, case study, or presentation that will test your skills. Knowing this with time ahead can help you plan accordingly.
- Review your notes from previous interviews
Before your second interview, you most likely have had conversations with the recruiter and hiring manager. Make sure you refresh your memory by reaching through your notes from these interviews so you can feel even more comfortable and prepared to have a more in-depth interview. In addition, you might want to read the job description again to have the details fresh in your mind.
- Prepare strong answers to questions with examples
During the interview, you should go into detail about the past experiences that lead you to be skilled in a given area of the job. Talk about situations, tasks, actions, and results you had that are relevant to the question and will show that you are able to manage given situations.
- Prepare questions for the interviewers
Your interviewers will likely ask if you have any questions during the interview. It is highly recommended to ask relevant and thoughtful questions to give you a better understanding of the company and the role, and to show your interest in joining the team. You might want to consider preparing 5-7 questions beforehand and add questions that arise during the interview.
- Follow-up
The interviewers will likely give you a timeframe about when you can expect to hear back from them with their feedback. If they don’t, politely ask them for the timeframe. When that time passes, it is okay to get in contact with them and check-in. This will also show your genuine interest in the company and role.
Getting ready for your second interview can feel like a lot. Take the time to prepare some scenarios or experiences you will most certainly like to share with the interviewers to show you are the most suitable candidate. The night before, make sure you get a good night’s rest to have full energy and ace the interview!
We hope you found this guide useful and helpful! Read more about Career Advice and Tips in our blog section!
Read also:
How to Respond to a Recruiter’s Message on LinkedIn
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5 Ways to Show You Are Truly Passionate in a Job Interview
