Why Interview Preparation is So Important?
If you’ve come across this article, there’s a likely chance you’ve been called in for a second interview.
First off, congratulations! Receiving a second interview invite means you’ve impressed the hiring team, making you a competitive candidate.
Just as you prepared for your first interview, it’s even more crucial now to do so to avoid being caught off guard. Understanding what to expect and preparing for a second interview can help you succeed and get hired.
How to prepare for second round interviews:
- Think back to your first interview
- Know your interviewers
- Go in with a strategy
- Prepare for interview questions
- Prepare more specific questions to ask your interviewer(s)
Think back to your first interview
Reflect on your first interview. What do you think went well? What didn’t go so well? Are there any questions you feel you could have answered better? Recognizing your areas of weakness can help you avoid making the same interview mistakes as you did the first go around. If there were any points of confusion during the last interview, note it down so you can clarify them during the second interview.
Know your interviewers
Before the second interview, be sure you know the hiring manager and any other important figures that will be part of the interview process. Asking for an agenda or interview itinerary beforehand can help get this information. In the second interview, you will likely be speaking with the hiring manager and other leadership team members.
As you learn about your interviewers, you can organize some discussion points, prepare your own questions to ask, and better prepare your strategy for the interview.
Go in with a strategy
Getting the opportunity to do a second interview is another opportunity to sell yourself. While the first interview consisted of getting to know one another and testing the waters, employers now want to know what’s in it for them.
To determine your specific angle, research the company and your interviewers. With your findings, look for any parallels to your professional background. In other words, focus on showcasing the positive impacts of your professional efforts and accomplishments.
Prepare for interview questions
While this advice hasn’t changed since you prepared for your initial interview, it is still equally, if not more important. Luckily for you, we’ve prepared a list of second interview questions! Though not an exhaustive list, it will give you a good idea of what kind of questions to expect.
The first interview probably involved questions that would uncover your personality and qualifications. In contrast, the second interview will seek to learn more about your work processes and decision-making/problem-solving skills.
Prepare more specific questions to ask your interviewer(s)
Like the first time around, you’ll need to prepare more questions to ask your interviewers. These questions should be more meaningful and specific to the job. Consider asking about 5 to 10 questions. These questions will show your interest and investment in the position and help you uncover any topics you require clarity on.
Recruitment Agency in Toronto | About Live Assets | IT Staffing Solutions
Live Assets is a boutique IT Staffing/Recruiting firm specializing exclusively in building IT teams of excellence for the Information Technology sector.
We are a small, but productive team that works closely together and has had a 96% success rate for the past number of years!
We have a diverse number of clients and industries and focus on both full-time and contract I.T. opportunities.
You can find out more about our company on LinkedIn – Twitter – Facebook –Youtube – Glassdooor