Interview advice please.

gilett

I had an interview last week for a job I really want but came out utterly confused. What I thought was an interview wasn't. Afterwards they told me I will be asked back for a 2nd interview during which HR will be present.

This is a first for me. Has anyone had a 2 stage interview like this? Why would a second interview need HR to be present? I'm confused as to why they do it this way. I've never been interviewed by the HR of the company I want to work for before, just the standard interview and that's it.

Help

engineer_amy

Happens very often! Company interviewing policies and procedures can vary wildly depending on many factors, such as the size of the company, the seniority of the role applied for, who is available to do interviews on certain days, how many candidates are being interviewed, whether the company has ever had any cases of discrimination brought after the selection process....


Our company had a role advertised that attracted a very large number of applicants - sometimes it is impossible to judge someone from just their CV, so after whittling down by the essential criteria, we invited 15 people for an initial interview. This was more of an informal chat to get an initial impression of the applicant, see how they might fit into our organisation, and was conducted by one out of the three directors, whichever was available at that timeslot. Six were then invited back for a second, more formal interview with all three directors, where the applicant was asked in depth questions, role playing, and STAR based responses.


I wouldn't panic too much, HR can simply be asked along for their professional input, or as a third party opinion. Generally being asked back for a second interview is a good sign, so good luck!

Ozzuk

As above, usually a good sign and very common for HR to be involved as technically they are responsible for the process. You may find you'll get asked some more probing questions about how you would respond in certain situation, how well you work in a team, problem solving etc (competency based questions).

gilett

Thanks for such an in depth replies . I'm afraid panic is my default response to interviews and I had hoped the first one was the only one, but it is a very big company and does have a high turn down rate.

I'll hold my nerve for the next one and hope they don't have me jumping through too many hoops.

My nerves are going to be frazzled by then anyway lol

TBagpuss

Good luck. As engineer Amy says, its very common, and it's generally a good sign that you have got to the second interview.

In some cases it is so that more senior members people can be involved in the second interview and the decision making process, in others it will be logistics, sometimes it is easier to have two separate meetings than to try to get everyone in the same place at the same time, sometimes it will be about who gets to negotiate what (i.e. it may be that the first interview is about people who do the job assessing whether you can do it, and the second may be more focused on the practicalities - how much do you want in salary, how soon can you start etc)

TELLIT01

One job I applied for had 3 interviews. 2 is pretty commonplace.

gilett

Well I feel more at ease about the second round now . After all I'll either be successful or I won't. Nothing to lose by trying.

Thank you all for the reassurance :beer:

Alfrescodave

Do make sure that you are prepared for the interview- background knowledge of the company etc. And have some questions ready - not just how much is the salary and how many days holiday.

If you are prepared then confidence will follow (and panic disappear).

stclair

gilett wrote: »

I had an interview last week for a job I really want but came out utterly confused. What I thought was an interview wasn't. Afterwards they told me I will be asked back for a 2nd interview during which HR will be present.

This is a first for me. Has anyone had a 2 stage interview like this? Why would a second interview need HR to be present? I'm confused as to why they do it this way. I've never been interviewed by the HR of the company I want to work for before, just the standard interview and that's it.

Help

I feel your pain... I really started a new job however in order to get an offer I had to jump through hoops!

* Online Application
* Verbal Reasoning Test
* Numerical Reasoning Test
* Geography Test
* Virtual Interview Online
* Panel Interview consisting of 3 people