Congratulations on Your Second Interview
If you have been called in for a second interview for a job position, congratulations. This means that you showed great interview skills and potential in the initial interview. A second interview is a great sign and means that the potential employer is definitely interested in learning more about you as an employment candidate. A second interview means that the interviewer has some more questions and wants to know a bit more about you as a potential candidate. When you receive a call back about a second interview, calmly thank the human resources representative that reached out to you. Make sure that you know exactly where to go for your second interview and that you confirm the exact date and time.
Do Your Research
Once you have confirmed your second interview opportunity, you will want to do some in depth research on the company. Before a first interview, it is very common to do some preliminary research about a company. During a second interview, it is highly likely that you will be asked questions directly relating to company history and values. Learning more about your potential place of employment will help you to determine if you are a good fit for the position. It will also help you to communicate to the interviewer about important topics like how you will be a good fit for the company and what values you have in common with the company. Showing off some company history interest and knowledge during a second interview is a great way to set yourself apart from other interview candidates.
Practice Interview Skills
Before going to your second interview, it may be important to brush up on your interview skills so that you can enter the situation with confidence. There are a few ways to do this. One good way to practice for an interview is to have a trusted friend or family member ask you mock interview questions. There are also professionals who specialize in this. Many career training centers offer interview coaching on the private level as well as the group level. This training will help you learn to confidently and concisely answer questions from strangers. These trained professionals will also be able to give you important feedback and tips after the mock interview.
Make a Good First Impression
Making a good first impression is a multifaceted process. First of all, it is extremely important to come to the interview well dressed. Dress professionally and reasonably for the interview setting. If you may be starting a shift at the end of the interview, take that into account when getting dressed and packing a bag to bring. Even entry level job interviews require professional attire. Professional attire should always be completely clean and free of wrinkles and stains. It is essential that your clothes and shoes match and that they fit you appropriately. Your hair and face should be visibly clean and neatly kept. Do not wear any perfumes or colognes that are heavily scented as this is a potential distraction to your interviewer. “Dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have” is always a good style rule for job interviews.
Be on Time
Being on time is another important part of making a good first impression. Plan for potential traffic, emergencies, detours, or other delays. Do not plan any important activities for immediately before the second interview. A good rule of thumb for job interviews and professional situations is “15 minutes early is on time.” When you are not in a rush prior to your interview, you can enter it with a more calm and focused mindset. No matter what your excuse is, being late to the second interview is a bad look and it is something that even the most forgiving employers will remember. The way they see it – if you will be late to the second interview appointment, you will definitely be late for work and client obligations as well. Make sure that you know your route to the interview location well and that your transportation method is reliable.
Be Prepared
There are a few important things to bring with you to a second interview appointment. For example, it is generally considered good practice to bring your own pen to a second interview. This way, if you are hired and have to fill out documents, you will be able to do so without asking to borrow a pen. It is also important to bring your identification and social security card in case you are hired and your new employer needs to make copies of your documents. Even if your interviewer has a digital copy of your resume on hand, you will also want to bring them a paper copy of your resume as well. Often times, your second interviewer is not the same as your first interviewer, and they will need their own copy of your resume to look at.
Ask Questions
One final tip for second interview success is to ask questions. Active listening involves asking questions. When you ask questions during your second interview, you show your interviewer that you are interested in the job position and in what they have said to you during your interview. This is also important because it helps you to confirm pay rates, start dates, and other curiosities that you may have.