how to prepare for a second interview
How to Prepare for a Second Interview
A candidate has to clear several rounds before he is finally selected for a position in a company. All of us focus heavily on the first interview, but it is worthwhile to mention here that the second interview is also important, and can make or break your prospects of getting the job. This write-up focuses on the right approach to prepare for a second interview.
- The second interview would focus around your ability to manage challenging situations. The interviewers would want to listen to some examples of how you handled different projects in your team and how you contributed to the overall progress of your previous company. Some second interview questions that you can expect are:You mentioned that you were in-charge of the customer grievance department. How did you deal with irate customers whose demands were not genuine, or How did you deal with team members who were not motivated to do their job. The interviewers do not want you to tell them the whole process in detail, but what they expect is an outline of how you dealt with situations like these.
- In the second interview, you are more likely to meet managers of different departments, who would then sit down to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of every candidate. It is important therefore, that you do some sort of research on the background of these managers. If you are not sure, call up your point of contact, and ask them the names of the people you are expected to meet. You can see if you can get some details about these people online. A bit of information about their professional and personal background will help you in building a rapport with your interviewers, which proves crucial in case they have to select between two equally talented candidates.
- Although the interviewers are expected to do most of the talking in an interview, asking some relevant questions will not hurt, and instead will project you as someone who has come prepared for the interview. This also gives the interviewers a feeling that this candidate is looking for a long-term association with the company. You can ask the interviewers about the expansion plans or the short-term goals of the company. You have to be a bit careful with this because you do not want to appear as someone who is trying to poke his nose inside way too much.