If you’ve received an invitation for a second interview, it’s a good sign that you impressed the employer in the first round. Getting ready for another interview can feel daunting, but if you prepare thoroughly, second interviews are a valuable opportunity for you to further showcase your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the role. Read our guide to help you approach your second interview with confidence and to make an even stronger impression.
What is a second interview?
Second interviews take place after a candidate has passed an initial interview or screening, and are commonly used by larger companies and graduate scheme employers, where they might have a larger number of applicants.
Whereas the first interview was a chance for the employers to get a general sense of your skills and experience, the second interview is a chance for them to evaluate your suitability for the role and your potential fit with the team or company in greater depth. There are fewer candidates left at the second interview stage, so employers will be keen to see what sets you apart from the others.
What to expect from a second interview?
It’s likely that second interviews will involve members of staff that were not present at the first interview, such as department leaders or more senior managers. Usually they take the form of panel interviews, with around 3 or 4 members of the team. If it is an in person interview, you might also get the opportunity to have a tour of the office to meet other potential colleagues.
Many companies also include practical tasks in a second interview, such as a presentation or a technical test or exercise. These are obviously extra elements to prepare for, but are excellent opportunities to highlight your skills and what you know about the company and the industry they operate in.
Remember to carefully read the invitation to the interview as this will likely outline all of the details you will need to prepare. If you are unsure about anything, don’t be afraid to go back to the employer for further clarification.
Does the second interview mean getting the job?
Although reaching the second interview stage is a really positive sign, it does not mean the job offer is guaranteed. You will still need to prepare effectively and have the same level of professionalism and enthusiasm that you had for the first interview. However, employers generally invite a smaller pool of candidates to the second interview stage, so if you do perform well there is a higher chance that you will secure that job offer!
Tips on preparing for a second interview
Preparation for a second interview should be taken just as seriously as you would have done for the first. Top tips include:
1. Get the basics right
As you would have done before, make sure you know where and what time the interview is so that you can plan your journey to get there in plenty of time. If it is an online interview, check your technology and set up beforehand so that you avoid any technical difficulties. You should also ensure to dress professionally to create a great second first impression!
2. Revisit the job description
Review the job description and person specification; pay close attention to competencies that were not covered in the first interview, and role-specific skills, and try to come up with examples that showcase these.
3. Research the company further
Delve deeper into the company – things to look out for include their values and ethos, projects they are working on, and any challenges they face in the industry. This will show that you are thinking about the bigger picture, and how your role will contribute to the company’s overall goals.
4. Reflect on your previous performance
You also have the benefit of being able to reflect on your previous interview – take time to consider if there were any answers where you felt you could have provided more detail, or if there were areas that were not covered the first time that might come up.
5. Prepare for any practical tasks
As outlined above, you may have to prepare for either a presentation or technical test during a second interview. Ensure to read any accompanying instructions carefully so that you know what is expected from you with any task. Read our articles on presentation skills and interview assessments to help you prepare further for these kinds of elements.
6. Plan questions to ask
Coming with some further questions to ask will demonstrate your engagement and enthusiasm for the job and the organisation. Try to think of more specific questions about the company culture, projects you might be working on in the role, or the objectives of the organisation.
7. Practice!
Take some time to practice saying your answers out loud, so that they come across as natural. You can do this in front of a mirror, with a friend or family member, or you could use an AI tool such as Google’s Interview Warmup to help with this.
Examples of second interview questions
With second interviews, expect to be asked more in-depth and targeted questions than you answered the first time around. Here we have listed a few of the most common second interview questions and tips for answering them to give you an idea of what to prepare for.
‘What do you think are most important skills required for this role?’
You can use this kind of question to sell your skillset and show that you understand what is needed from you in the role. If you have studied the job description you will have a very good idea of what kind of skills will be valuable – perhaps pick three of them that you think are the most important, and that you can back up with evidence of how you have demonstrated them.
‘Give us an example of a time you faced a challenging situation at work. How did you handle it?’
This is an example of a competency question, where employers use your past experience to assess how you would behave in the workplace, and to gain insight into your character. Use the STAR (situation, task, action and result) method to help you answer these types of question – this is covered well in our ‘How to answer competency based interview questions’ article.
‘Imagine you have been assigned a high-priority project with a tight deadline, but another important task comes up. How would you deal with this?’
Employers might ask scenario-based questions such as these, to help predict your future performance. These are a bit more difficult to prepare for, but think about what you would logically do in the situation and make sure to explain your reasoning for the action you would take.
‘What are your career goals?’
This question is usually asked by employers to ensure that your personal and professional development goals align with the company’s overall aims. Briefly mention both your short- and long-term career goals, and how the role could help you achieve them.
‘Is there anything you’d like to revisit from the first interview?’
This question gives you a chance to expand on anything you think you could have explained better from the first interview.
‘Why should we give you the job?’
This is usually a one of the closing questions, and is a good opportunity for you to summarise everything you have said so far and reiterate why you are the best person for the job!
Hopefully you should now feel prepared to take on that second interview with self-confidence and assurance. Remember it’s a great achievement to get to this stage, so make the most of the opportunity – we wish you good luck!
Do you need more help preparing for a job interview? Explore our interview tips on the Unitemps Career Advice webpage for support.
This article was written by Amy Evan-Cook.
Last updated on 18 November 2024
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