Tips for Handling a Second Interview

You got an interview, it went well and now you’ve been invited along for a second time. It’s an exciting invitation as you can see that new opportunity on the horizon, but how do you prepare for the interview so you can ensure it goes as well as the first. Here are our tips for handling a second interview and landing the job.

Prepare!

You did all your preparations for the first interview and really shone, so don’t let yourself down by not preparing a second time. Make sure you read up on the company again and fill any gaps in your knowledge. If a different person will be interviewing you this time, try and learn as much as you can about them professionally, so you can work out how they fit in to the organisation.

Ask Questions

Hopefully after you left the interview you had even more questions and felt excited to discover more about the role. You should make your questions more in depth so you demonstrate to the hiring manager that you were really listening in your first interview and that you’ve given it a lot of thought since you left. An example might be “You mentioned in the first interview that the role would evolve as the business grows, I just wondered if you could tell me a bit more about that?”.

Be Engaging

You went in to your first interview full of energy and enthusiasm which is why you’ve found yourself now with a second interview! Make sure you take that same energy along so you make the best impression. Ensure you listen and engage just as much as you did the first time, it’s not in the bag yet!

Take Examples of Your Work

Now you know more about the company and the role, you might think of better examples of your previous work than you mentioned in your first interview. If relevant to your role take along physical examples to demonstrate your experience, or think of ways to highlight your key achievements that will reflect well on the responsibilities of the role.

Address Any Concerns

If you feel the interviewer might have concerns about your experience, for example perhaps they questioned a period of job-hopping in your first interview, then use the opportunity to address those concerns. If you feel comfortable you could even ask the interviewers if they have any areas they feel you might have weaknesses in. This shows really confidence and passion for the role and also gives you the chance to put any doubts they might have to bed.

Sell Yourself (Again) 

When it comes to the second interview stage it’s likely just yourself and a handful of applicants, maybe even just one other person in the running so you really need to sell yourself. You need to demonstrate the value that you’d bring to the business above other applicants. Think about the areas they really questioned you about in the first interview, for example if they focussed mostly on your leadership experience then that would suggest that’s the thing about you that really appealed to them. Use this knowledge to highlight your strengths and perhaps demonstrate different aspects of your leadership experience.

Ask About Next Steps 

Don’t leave your interview without asking what the next steps will be. Typically after a second interview a decision will be made, so ask when you’re likely to hear as it tells the employer that you’re excited about the role. It also means you aren’t left hanging on too long!

If you’re looking for a new opportunity and you want an experienced recruitment professional to help, then get in touch with Optimum Recruitment. Send your CV to admin@optimumrecruitment.co.uk or call 01904 208065.

Posted By: Abigail Simpson