Revealed! What To Expect On Your Second Interview

By Tabitha Makumi,
You did it! Your first interview went well enough, you managed to impress the interview panel and just to prove how well you did on your first round, you get a call inviting you for a second round of interview.

For you this means you are very close to getting that job. This is it for you. Play your cards well and that job could be yours. But wait a minute, after the excitement of getting that call dies down you start to wonder what a second interview or even a third interview is all about.

If you have attended another with some other company you have a drill of what goes on during second interviews. On the other hand, if you’ve never been invited for one, this could be a tricky one for you. What can you expect from this kind of interview? Will it be like the first one?

Like is the case with most second interviews, you are meeting different people from the ones who conducted the first interview. This time around you can expect to meet with the director of the company and several senior managers who want to know the kind of person they are about to bring on board.

Here is what to expect on that crucial second interview which is literally standing between you and that job.

1.Expect Company and Job Specific Interview Questions

The questions you will be asked depend on the type of position you’re interviewing for and mind you they will expect detailed responses from you than what you gave on your first round.

Let’s say you are interviewing for a sales position at Uniliver Company. You can definitely expect interview questions about your sales achievements.  By stating these achievements, you can help Uniliver understand how you will grow their sales and market share.

The best way to prepare how to answer questions about how you will perform is to learn as much as you can about the job and the company. The more you know, the easier it will be to relate your skills to the company’s needs.

Check out the company’s web site, Facebook page, Twitter feed, and LinkedIn page. Know the latest news about that company; have they been making profit or massive loss in the past?

If you have connections inside the company, talk to them and try to get insider information as much as possible.

2. Expect Creativity Questions
Candidates will be expected to show how they can think outside the box. Are you creative? For your sake I am hoping you are.  The questions do not necessarily work related. They will pose a question where they will want you to give a solution. For example you might be asked, “If you must give a presentation to 100 people and your digital projector stops working 15 minutes before you must begin, how would you improvise?”

3.They are expecting you to have some questions for them.
It’s important to have questions ready to ask the interviewer and since you don’t want to repeat what you asked in the first interview, have a different set of interview questions ready to ask during your second interview.

For example you can ask
a)What is the best thing about working for this company?
b) What qualities does it take to succeed in this position/company?
c) What is the most challenging part of this job?
d) If I were to be offered the job, when would you like me to start?

Keep in mind that if you get that job, these are the people you will be working with. So, it’s important to create a rapport with them.

Don’t be shy to make small talk–but not too much. Mention a last night’s foot ball game if you can be able to tie it in with a response. And while you are at it, be careful to keep the humor light to avoid offending the interviewer or making yourself stand out in a bad way.