Toll Free: (877) 314-8872
Second Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)

Second Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)

Some people seem to just breeze through job interviews. There are others though who need a bit more preparation to be interview-ready. Whichever category you belong to, the good news is you passed the first interview and now, you just need to ace the second one.

As we’ve said before in a previous post, second interviews are common if you’re applying for a government position or a job in a large company. If you were shortlisted along with other strong candidates, employers usually want to know how you would fit in with the company’s culture.

Second interview questions are therefore different from the first one. Here, we’ll give you a rundown of questions you might encounter at a second interview and how you can best answer them.

Best Answers to Common Second Interview Questions

1. What Makes You The Best Person for the Job?

If this question has already been asked during the first interview, you might be tempted to answer the same way. But you should note that the interviewer (usually an HR person) has already noted down your previous answer. You should assume that the second interviewer already knows your qualifications.

Your answer should highlight your skills that best match the requirements stated in the job description. Don’t give generic answers. This is your chance to stand out from the competition and elaborate on how the essentials skills you have will be an asset to the role.

2. What Is Your Idea of Our Corporate Environment?

You should take what you’ve learned from your first interview and expand on how you could see yourself working for the company. If you know the company’s mission statement, you can also say something about the efforts of the company in terms of achieving it. This would also be a good time to ask for clarifications if, for whatever reason, you have some reservations about accepting the role.

3. What’s Your Expected Salary?

This should be easy to answer as long as you stick to a realistic salary range. Again, if this was already asked during the initial interview, you should take this opportunity to be consistent and explain why you feel the figure you’ve come up with is reasonable.

An important thing to remember is not to undervalue yourself. Considering the role and your experience, be prepared to explain why you should be paid that much for your skills. Don’t forget to ask about bonuses, benefits, and other perks.

Win Your Second Interview

The main difference between initial and second interviews is the questions are bound to be more personal. Beyond your skills and experience, your future employers want to see if you’ll work well with other employees and if you have what it takes to excel in your role, given the company culture.

If you find yourself nervous during interviews or if you need to work on your elevator speech, you should consider interview coaching. With the right coach, you won’t have to struggle with selling yourself. You will be well-equipped to effortlessly articulate your value and arm yourself with the strategies needed to win in today’s competitive job market.

Contact us if you have any questions about our resume, interview coaching, and career coaching services.

How to Nail Your First Interview: Essential Tips for Success

How to Nail Your First Interview: Essential Tips for Success

Preparing for a job interview is both exciting and scary. You want the company to like you, but you want to make sure you understand and like the job as well.

Thirty-three percent of bosses make their hiring decision within the first 90 seconds of the interview. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to influence that decision.

Take a look at these essential tips for nailing your first interview.

Make a Strong First Impression

Remember those first 90 seconds? You can win the job simply by making a great first impression.

Employers look for a variety of things when you first walk in the door. Make sure you:

  • Are dressed professionally, no matter the job
  • Make excellent eye contact
  • Have a firm, professional handshake
  • Are appropriately groomed

Of course, none of that will matter if you don’t arrive to the interview on time. Be sure to leave plenty of time for traffic, weather, and other unexpected obstacles.

Research the Company

When you arrive at the interview, you expect that the recruiter has read your resume. They also expect that you will know and understand the organization.

Take time before your interview to research the history of the company, where it was founded, and where its current offices are. Find out who their customers are and be familiar with its products and services.

The purpose of your research is to be able to describe how you can fit in and help the business succeed. Be aware of recent news and current business challenges, as well as how you can make a difference.

Ask Questions in Your First Interview

At the end of your interview, the manager will ask if you have any questions. You should always have questions!

Your research of the company may have yielded some topics to ask about. Other than that, you can ask questions that come up during the interview, or ask about the position itself.

The goal of asking questions isn’t just to impress the interviewer. You also need to ensure the position and the company are the right fit for you. Ask about a typical day on the job, important qualities the employer is looking for, and more.

Always Give Examples of Your Skills

Stories have a way of connecting with people, and numbers and facts can be impressive as well. When you describe yourself as having a particular trait, demonstrate it with a story or example.

Of course, you don’t want to be long-winded, but be sure to back up your assertions. You can talk about a difficult situation you handled, specific sales results you achieved, and other similar illustrations.

When you give specifics about your accomplishments and personality, the interviewer won’t create his or her own interpretation of what you said. It will also add credibility to your statements and show that you’re prepared for the first interview.

Don’t leave your first interview to chance. Have your resume expertly prepared and be ready for any questions the manager might bring up. Also, don’t forget to send a thank you note!

For more information on preparing for interviews, contact us for a free consultation today.

 


OTHER RESOURCES
Top Interview Questions to Ask When Hiring Job Applicants

Call Now Button