You have impressed the interviewer in the first stage of the interview. Now you have received an invite for the second stage of the interview. Congratulations! This means that the interviewer sees you as a worthy candidate and they are seriously considering you. But that does not mean you should relax as if you have gotten the job. You need to prepare well so you can receive a job offer. Read on to know what to expect at the second interview and how you should prepare for it.
What to expect at the second interview
Since the hiring manager sees you as a worthy candidate, they also see others in such a way. Therefore, you need to show them that you are the best fit for the job. Hence, if you know what to expect, you will have an edge over other candidates. These are the things you should expect in a second interview;
Expect more and more
At this stage of the interview, you should expect more in-depth questions from the interviewer. There is the possibility that the interviewer didn’t catch some information at the first stage, so they would like to know more about it. Also at this stage of the interview, you might be asked some new and tricky questions. Besides, if you are not clear about certain things, this is the best time for you to bring them up.
Proof of your skills and expertise
You have probably answered questions about your skills and expertise at the first stage of the interview. But at the second interview, you should expect to be more specific while proofing your skills. You might be asked questions on technical skills. Hence, you should expect quizzes, tests, and so on.
A different type of interview
The second stage of the interview is usually different from the first stage. So, expect a different type of interview at this stage. For instance, you should prepare to meet with the decision-makers at the second stage. Besides, expect that you might undergo a behavioral interview at the second stage.
Salary discussion
The second interview is the time to discuss salary. However, you should not start the salary discussion first, let the interviewer be the first person to broach the topic. Make sure you do research to know the ideal salary for the position you are applying for. Here is a complete guide on Salary negotiations.
How to prepare for a second interview
Good preparation helped you to ace the first stage of the interview. So to succeed in the second stage, you should also prepare well. And this is how to prepare for a second interview;
Research the company
You have probably researched the company briefly before the first interview. This is the time to go in-depth in your research. Know their values, culture, mission, and so on. You should also update yourself about the recent happenings in the company. Experts say that the best way to research the company at this stage is to ask an employee. This will allow you to get the inside scoop on the company. The reason for in-depth research is to show that you are invested and you really have an interest in the company. Besides, you can use this opportunity to know whether the company will be a good fit for you.
Review your first interview
While preparing for the second interview, you should review your first interview. If there are some questions that you were unable to answer well in the first stage, prepare for them. Besides, prepare for in-depth answers to questions you answered well during the first stage.
Brush up your knowledge
Because this stage is the time for you to prove your skill and expertise, you should brush up on your knowledge. Prepare for technical skills that are relevant to your industry. You should also prepare for case studies to showcase your skills. If you have researched the company and the role, then you might bring up recommendations about the role you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for the role of social media manager, you can bring up some recommendations on how to improve social media content. Although we recommend that you talk about recommendations if it comes up in conversation.
Prepare for common interview questions
In the first stage, you were probably asked common interview questions such as “tell me about yourself”, ” why you left your last job” and so on. However, for this second stage, you should prepare for an in-depth and practical interview. This is probably the stage where the interviewer will conduct a behavioral interview for you. So make sure you prepare accordingly.
Prepare questions for the interviewer
Just like in the first interview, the interviewer expects you to ask them questions. So make sure you prepare questions for the interviewer. Make sure you ask relevant questions that will showcase your genuine interest in the company and the role.
Tips for acing the second interview
To ensure that you ace the interview, here are some tips we have for you.
- Prepare well: just like the popular saying, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. So, make sure you prepare appropriately for your interview
- Dress appropriately: The fact that you got to this stage does not mean that you should dress anyhow. Make sure you dress appropriately for the interview. If possible, follow the dress code for your first interview.
- Show confidence and excitement: while answering questions during the interview, you must be confident. Answer questions confidently, raise your chin, and maintain eye contact
- Use the S.T.A.R technique to answer questions. You should ensure that you answer questions with relevant examples. This will show your experience and how qualified you are. So, you can use the S.T.A.R technique to answer questions. Read about it here.
- Follow up: Make sure you follow up on the interview, this shows your genuine interest in the job. However, if the interviewer gives you a specific time frame, don’t reach out before it lapses. If it lapses and you didn’t hear anything, then you can reach out to them.
Final Thoughts
It can be daunting or challenging to prepare for the second interview. However, make sure you prepare well so that you will ace the interview. And while preparing, remember that you were chosen from thousands of candidates to get to this stage. So, be proud of yourself.
