HR Tip #12: Second Round Interview

Posted by Max on Apr 5, 2011 in News | 3 comments

You just got the call from the recruiter and have been invited for a second round interview. That’s excellent news! You’ve obviously followed both Hailey’s and my advice so far. The recruiter has been left with a good impression as well as a well written thank-you letter. It’s time to up your game or in American lingo – it’s time to make the donuts!

You came this far so you must have done some things right so far. Most applicants are more than capable of evaluating themselves, thus you should put together a brief recap of what sort of questions you were asked. It is vital to summarise your interview in notes immediately after the interview in order to detect what your interviewer found impressive. Consequently, rate yourself on the quality of answers you gave and identify areas of improvement. This will give you a good solid foundation of good responses.

Having seen the inside of the company during the first interview stage you will hopefully have sensed the organisational culture as well as the according dress code. Here another important hint: If you are not sure how casual the dress code is, it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. We have had people rock up in sandals before and it is not really a great look (especially with white tennis socks). In addition, attempt to identify the key decision makers before the interview. The more you know the easier you can gauge the situation. Simply sneak a peek at their Linkedin profile.

In most cases the second round interview will consist of the applicant meeting with a head of a department or a senior member of the management team. Therefore, the questions might differ from those asked in the first round of interviews. In most cases the purpose of the first interview is to assess whether an applicant has the necessary skillset. Hence the second interview is focused on whether you fit into the organisational culture. Moreover, there may be questions concerning finer details of the job. Make sure you can relate to all skills and responsibilities outlined in the job spec through your work experience. That being said, the interviewer may well have various questions regarding your professional past. From my experience, many questions focus on decisions you have made in the past and why (academically or professionally). Also, what sort of environment you have worked in and what type of environment you prefer.

Feel free to ask more specific questions, for example: how do I succeed in the job? Show the employer that you are in it to win it. Remember how competitive the job Market is and go out there to sell yourself! I recently read an article about owners and renters. Nowadays, employers are exclusively looking for owners who take control and responsibility. Owners are those who look to identify themselves with the mission and values of a company. Employees (renters) merely looking to work necessary hours in order to ensure a fixed income are not the target group.

Altogether, prepare by building a foundation of successful responses, identify the organisational culture and decision makers. Make sure you have the optimal understanding of what the job requires and how you can relate to it in terms of academic background, work experience as well as future prospects. Prepare thoughtful questions that show your willingness to perform and drive for success.

Lastly, if everything works out according to plan and you sense that the situation is right you could try and close the deal by asking for an offer. Obviously, this requires tactfulness and confidence as well as impeccable timing.

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Photography: mamaloco, Reza Vaziri and Mtsofan