Second time around – the second interview
Congratulations. You’ve been called back for a second interview. This is excellent news but there are likely to be other candidates still in the frame so there is no guarantee you will secure a job offer at the end of it. Careful preparation is just as important as it was for the first interview. You’ve got your foot in the door, now you need to convince the company that you are a perfect fit for the role on offer.
Make sure you find out who will be conducting the interview. It may not be the same person you met at the first interview but someone completely different and it may involve a panel interview or even introductions to other team members, including your potential line manager. If you find out their names in advance, then you can do a little research on them via LinkedIn. This will inform you about their particular areas of interest and help you prepare for the kind of questions they may ask you.
Look back at the notes you made after your first interview. What could you have done better? What questions did you struggle to answer? Make sure you rehearse these answers again as they may well be re-visited the second time around. Go over your CV with a fine toothcomb, making sure you can talk knowledgeably about every detail on it.
Sell yourself and don’t hold back. Provide lots of examples of what you have accomplished in previous roles that relate to this position. This is your chance to convince everyone else in the room that you are the perfect candidate.
Ask lots of questions. If you are offered a tour of the facility, you should definitely accept. This is a great way to find out if this business environment is right for you. If appropriate, take the opportunity to chat to your potential workmates and find out what they like about their job. You can also ask yourself if they’re the kind of people you want to work with.
At the end of the interview make sure you ask when they will be making a decision so you know when you can expect to hear back. There is always a chance you may be offered a job then and there. Don’t feel under pressure to make an instant decision. Ask for some time to consider the offer properly and let the interviewer know when you will respond.
