Congratulations! You've been called for a second interview, and you are one step closer to that new job that you really want. Now it is important not to lose sight of the prize; you need to make sure that you are ready for that all important second interview. Whether the thought of a second interview fills you with excitement that you have got this far, fear that you still have another stage to get through or perhaps the confidence to go out there and show them how much you want the position, you may be wondering what you need to do to prepare. If second interviews are new territory for you, then it can be daunting knowing what they will involve and how you need to prepare because there is a good chance you will need to do more preparation than you did for the initial interview.
While the great news is that having passed the first interview they obviously saw something in you, and there will be many aspects of your second interview that will be along the lines of the first one, there will be some key differences. Here we take a look at everything you need to know in order to wow them at a second interview.
What is the difference between first and second interviews?
First interviews are all about looking at your basic skills and getting a little insight into your personality; it is a good way for a potential employer to see if you on paper, your CV and covering letter, match up to you in real life. A second interview may delve into these items a little closer, but they are a way of finding out a lot more about you; these can include anything from more in-depth questions, discussing things that came up during your first interview or even talking about salary expectations. This is where the interviewer is looking to see what sets you apart from the other interviewees, which is why preparation is vital.
If your first interview was organised by an agency then don’t be afraid to discuss your second interview with them, event recruitment agencies pride themselves on matching the best candidate to each job, it is their job to help you succeed.
How should you prepare?
In a second meeting, there are some elements that will be similar to the first, but there are certain extras you should pay extra attention to when it comes to preparing.
If your first interview was a while ago, or you have been for other interviews in the meantime then make sure that you do your research thoroughly. Brush up on the company details and job description that you looked at last time. If your second interview is being carried out by different people then look them up, it might give you a clue what to expect
Remember, your first interview went well so build on that and make sure that keep up with the impression you have already made. You will still need to focus on those key strengths that you can bring to the company, but it is important that you establish a good rapport with the interviewers too - don't forget to be a person as well as a skillset.
Make sure that you take the time to prepare some questions of your own, at this stage, it is important to ask the right questions. Try to make sure that your questions convey your interest in the role.
They may also decide to test your ability to do the job and see that your skills are at the level you say they are with some form of aptitude test. This is a test that can also show how well you work under pressure and s a great way for the company to get a sense of how you work.
Remember all this and you should be able to give your second interview your best and get one more step closer to the job offer you want.