Second Interview Advice

scottishgirl87

So I've been asked to attend a second interview with a company I have been trying to get into for years. I'm not really sure what to expect from a second interview as it's been about 6 years since I've been asked for a second interview (several interviews during that time just all one interview process).

Does anyone have any tips to help me stand out against another candidate? For example, a friend of mine was told he was offered a job after providing a print out of a presentation he had put together and handing it over during the second interview as this had impressed the interviewers. I'm not sure if I want to go down that route but not sure if there's something else I could be doing.

Sanne

I guess the question is impossible to answer as you don't know who you are up against.

I once had a second interview and there was one more candidate - not sure really why they asked me back as he had years more experience than me and, worse, in their industry and with the type of projects they had upcoming. I could probably have dine anything and wouldn't have got the job (I was given the feedback that I couldn't have done anything better and the decision was solely based on experience - which I believe as they contacted me about another job more than a year later and were keen to see if I was interested).

Another second interview I had was solely to find out if I was a good match for the company, the recommendation to hire me had already been made.

My current employer has second interviews for anyone where a director wasn't involved in the first interview - for them to sense check that people are right for the company.

Every second interview will be different - just prepare for it as well as you can and try to be yourself.
If you have to give a presentation make sure it's professional, addressed to the target group and follows all best practices (which, for me, include providing handouts for the audience to take notes).

Also make sure you are prepared for different types of interview if you haven't had any information - it might seem like an informal chat (though it's still an interview and all rules apply), it might be formal, it might be competency based or more about fit. It might be that you already have the job and someone just needs to sign off on it, it might be that there are still two or three candidates apart from you.

If they gave you any info it might be worth posting it here for better advice though I guess it's always true that you won't know who you're up against!

Good luck!

dcouponzzzz

It depends on the first interview. My initial role with my current employer, 1st interview was held by HR to check my knowledge of the advertised role and the history/current position of the company. Second was with the recruiter to run through transferrable skills but informal.

Last week I had a normal first interview, second interview as stated above was with the recruiter and the director to do a sense check. First impressions being pretty heavily weighted here, you can just be yourself. Being too agreeable or too eager may be negative.

scottishgirl87

Sanne wrote: »

I guess the question is impossible to answer as you don't know who you are up against.

I once had a second interview and there was one more candidate - not sure really why they asked me back as he had years more experience than me and, worse, in their industry and with the type of projects they had upcoming. I could probably have dine anything and wouldn't have got the job (I was given the feedback that I couldn't have done anything better and the decision was solely based on experience - which I believe as they contacted me about another job more than a year later and were keen to see if I was interested).

Another second interview I had was solely to find out if I was a good match for the company, the recommendation to hire me had already been made.

My current employer has second interviews for anyone where a director wasn't involved in the first interview - for them to sense check that people are right for the company.

Every second interview will be different - just prepare for it as well as you can and try to be yourself.
If you have to give a presentation make sure it's professional, addressed to the target group and follows all best practices (which, for me, include providing handouts for the audience to take notes).

Also make sure you are prepared for different types of interview if you haven't had any information - it might seem like an informal chat (though it's still an interview and all rules apply), it might be formal, it might be competency based or more about fit. It might be that you already have the job and someone just needs to sign off on it, it might be that there are still two or three candidates apart from you.

If they gave you any info it might be worth posting it here for better advice though I guess it's always true that you won't know who you're up against!

Good luck!

Thank you! Funnily enough your first scenario sounds familiar as I actually had an interview at the same place 2 years ago and lost out to someone with more experience, however, the company got in touch recently to tell me about this position. First interview was really informal so I'm not really sure what to expect. I have a feeling I'm up against someone with more experience again but that they may feel I would fit into the team better (judging from my first interview).

Minefield isn't it!

Sanne

scottishgirl87 wrote: »

Thank you! Funnily enough your first scenario sounds familiar as I actually had an interview at the same place 2 years ago and lost out to someone with more experience, however, the company got in touch recently to tell me about this position. First interview was really informal so I'm not really sure what to expect. I have a feeling I'm up against someone with more experience again but that they may feel I would fit into the team better (judging from my first interview).

Minefield isn't it!

Did you get any other feedback after the first interview which you could use now?

Maybe focus on how you can transfer your current skills into the company you are applying for to make up for any lack for experience (if there is any!). So instead of saying "I have done xyz in my current job which has really improved the process and we produce 3 times more thingies in a week now" say "I have experience with xyz which has improved our production process and we now produce 3 times more in a week. I know I haven't any direct experience but the knwokwege/experience I gained will be a solid foundation to do xyz in the role you are advertising because...".

If you are really up against someone more experienced and they tend to go for experience over potential/team fit then try and convince them that you're the better overall package and can get up to speed quickly.

In my current role, I was the weakest candidate on paper. Well, by far - there was actually very little in the JD I had ever done!
The recruitment company called me as they thought my now-employer would like the profile so I went for it (I would have never dared to apply for the role without them calling) and I ended up getting the job (with one interview instead of the planned two).
They thought that on paper, it was an absolutely crazy decision to make but they had seen something in the interview and I had convinced them that I'm willing and able to quickly learn all the skills required.

So it can go the other way round and you can leave well experienced candidates behind if you can convince them that you are right for the job. One reason I got the job by the way was that I was authentic during the interview and open about what I had and hadn't done.

So just be yourself while trying to convince them that you're the best for them :-)

missbiggles1

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

It depends on the first interview. My initial role with my current employer, 1st interview was held by HR to check my knowledge of the advertised role and the history/current position of the company. Second was with the recruiter to run through transferrable skills but informal.

Last week I had a normal first interview, second interview as stated above was with the recruiter and the director to do a sense check. First impressions being pretty heavily weighted here, you can just be yourself. Being too agreeable or too eager may be negative.

Sorry, what's that?

dcouponzzzz

To get a first impression and decide if your personality would be a good fit. That's my translation of hearing it elsewhere anyway

TBagpuss

Who was the first interview with, and who is the second with?

If the first was with HR and the second withthe department head then I would expect the second interview to be a more detailed opportunity to answer questins about you specific skills and experience and how they match with the firm's needs.

If your first interview was with members of the team and was fairly technical, the nI would normally expect that second to be woth someone more senior and to be more abou whether your face fits, and perhaps to confirm the iopinion of the first interviewer about your skills.

So I would prepare with a view to being able to aswer questions about your skilsl and expereience , and how specifcally they fit woth the job. Think abotu anything you were told about the job, or the company, at the first interview which wasn't in the job description and consider how you fit with that requirement / issue.

In some cases, the second interview is more of a conformation - the people doing the interview have recommended you but wnat the other members of the department / person who will be your direct manager / head o the department to be able to met you too.