Making It Through the Second Interview
For some entry level job candidates, making it through the first job interview is just the beginning. If a candidate did really well on the first interview, an employer may call him in for a second, more in-depth discussion of why he's the best candidate for the job. In her article, Going on the Second Interview, Tara Weiss offers some useful advice to help candidates know how to "rock" their second interviews as well as they did their first.
The second interview is a chance for employers to learn more about the candidates and what they have to offer, but it's also an opportunity for candidates to elaborate on skills and qualifications that may or may not have been mentioned in the first one. Prior to the interview, Weiss recommends finding out the names, job titles and primary functions of the people who will be conducting the interview from the company's HR department. Any additional information that can be learned and used for small talk is also beneficial.
Knowing as much as possible about the department where she will be working will also help a candidate to select stories from her brag book that will illustrate how she can help the department to thrive. Including specific information about the company itself, especially anything that was gleaned during the first interview, will impress interviewers that a candidate is serious.
Weiss goes on to advise asking HR why the offered position is open. If it is open because the department is expanding or the previous employee received a promotion, these are positives that can be used during the second interview. The candidate can explain - using specific details from past jobs - why he will be successful in meeting the department's needs. He can also ask HR what qualities made the previous employee successful and give examples during the interview that illustrate that he has the same qualities.
Having as many stories about past accomplishments as possible is important, particularly for someone who is interviewing for a management position. Keeping responses short and to-the-point will show that the candidate is confident and well versed with her own career history. Having questions of her own, especially ones that further indicate the candidate's knowledge of the company and her genuine interest in the position is strongly advised.
It's also important to have a pen and notebook or tablet handy not only for taking notes, but also for writing down the names and titles of the interviewers after collecting their business cards. Ideally, this should be done at the beginning of the meeting, but taking care of it at the end will work, too, provided no one has to duck out early.
Finally, Weiss encourages making small talk, "but not too much." Being able to get along with coworkers and supervisors is just as important as being able to do the job well; a candidate's personability could be the deciding factor when interviewers are forced to choose from among a group of equally qualified job seekers.
Leave a comment