What to expect at the second interview
meeting will have the same feel. “It’s very dependent on the organization, so be preWhile the first round of pared for meeting more peo- a job interview is all about ple and maybe it not being going over your qualificaall sit-down,” says Berger. tions and résumé, round How to prep: Practice two is often where the real positive body language. vetting happens. “Your presentation and the
“During a second interimpression you leave with view, you will need to empha- the interviewer could help size your added value to the the employer decide to make organization, enthusiasm for you an offer,” Johnson says. the position, and demon- So if you’re walking around strate that you are a good the office, stand tall, smile, fit,” says Lynn Berger, a New and make eye contact with York City–based career coun- staffers. Don’t underestiselor and coach. mate the importance of a
To get you ready, Monster good handshake. mapped out some of the most common questions and sit- uations you’ll face.
New people to impress
A first job interview is typically with an HR person or a department supervisor, but once you’re brought back in, a higher-up manager might sit in. And sometimes, you might even meet with several team members who you’d be working with directly.
How to prep: Read up on the company to understand the employer’s brand, culture, and recent events, and research the people you’ll be interviewing with (if you are told who that will be), says Christol Johnson, manager of career services for El Centro College in Dallas. “Employers are impressed when a candidate knows a lot about them,” she says.
A different setting
Just because the first inter- view took place in a closed meeting room or office doesn’t mean your next Typical second interview questions
Every employer uses dif- ferent interview tactics, but second-interview questions often require you to reveal not only your competencies, but also your ethics and values and how they fit with the company culture.
“Situational and behavioral interview questions are designed to learn a candi- date’s approach to real-world situations,” says Johnson.
In addition, some questions are designed to gauge how you prefer to communicate, and your thoughts on work/life balance.
How to prep: Prepare valid examples of your accomplishments — times when you led a team, managed a project, or turned a nega- tive situation into a positive outcome, says Johnson. Ulti- mately, the employer wants to know that you can handle yourself if challenges arise as well as hear about how you’ve adapted to change. Wacky questions
As for oddball questions such as what you read last or what animal you most identify with, there’s really no way to be 100 percent ready for those. The interviewer’s goal here is to get some insight into your personality, while also observing if you’re easily flustered.
How to prep: “Take a step back and understand why they’re asking the question,” says Berger, rather than blurt something out because you let your nerves get the best of you. Try paus- ing a moment to collect your thoughts (you can say something such as, “That’s a question I haven’t heard before,” to buy yourself some extra time), and then give a simple but thoughtful answer.
Role reversal
During a second interview, the tables will once again be turned on you, with the inter- viewers opening the floor for you to ask questions. In the second interview, you want to get into specifics of the position.
“This is your chance to get a sense of the daily responsi- bilities, priorities of the job, and the goals,” says Berger. You can also ask about the career trajectory of people who’ve held the position before you, and what impact your role has on the company overall.
How to prep: Look over the original job posting and think back to lingering ques- tions you might have had after your first interview. Again, this is where your research skills can come in handy; ask about recent company news and announcements. As for what not to ask? Don’t bring up salary and benefits just yet—that will come later in the offer stage.
Prove you fit in
Because so much of the second interview is about determining if you’re the candidate who’s the best fit, much of it does come down to how well you hit it off with the employer, says Berger. “You might have someone who asks questions very dryly, while someone else is more conversational,” she says.
How to prep: Try to take cues from the interviewer regarding how casual and conversational you should be. As far as the content of your responses, try putting yourself in their shoes.
When possible, highlight a connection to the employer to indicate that you’re on the same page.
No matter how you think the second interview goes, if you really want the job, always try to end on a positive note. That’s something simple, but surprisingly, not everyone does it, says Berger. Just being enthusiastic can leave a lasting impression.