Tips TO Prepare For a 2nd Interview/ Second Interview? Here’s how to prepare!
One of the best moments of an MBA student’s life is getting called for a second interview. A second interview means that the first interview has gone extremely well, the candidate has done his job of impressing the hiring manager and his chances of getting hired for the job are very high. It is a second chance for the hiring manager to size up the candidate and truly decides whether he will be a fit for the job. A second interview, while not a guarantee of employment, is definitely another opportunity for the candidate to present himself as the perfect candidate. It is more likely that the second interview will be more in-depth and that the candidate will meet his senior managers, supervisors, and team-mates. Therefore, the candidate has to prepare accordingly and this article aims to do exactly that by educating MBA graduates on how they can ace the second interview too and finally land their dream job. HOW TO HANDLE THE INITIAL PHONE-CALL OR EMAIL The candidate must work to make even that initial phone call for the second interview, work in his favor. He must not stammer or stutter and should be confident and clear. Slipping in a few questions about the exact details of the job, and asking the name and role of the individual calling, will greatly favor the candidate. If the candidate got the callback for the second interview through an email, then he must take his time and draft a clear, well-tailored response, which should also include the questions mentioned above. The candidate should avoid getting self-conscious and should be as prepared as possible. PLANNING A STRATEGY The candidate must do some background research about the people who will be interviewing him. He must gain a little personal information about them and focus on their role within the company, while making small talk. This is also the time when the candidate must decide whether he is a good fit for the job and the company and also whether he truly wants it. He must figure out what he really wants in a job and come with a new list of potential questions to ask his interviewer. Brushing up on the company information is always an added advantage. The candidate should come prepared and print out multiple copies of his resume and other documents, in case they are required. DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERVIEWS Second interviews are usually of three different types: ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW: An interview with only one person, it could probably be the same as the candidate’s first interview. However, the person interviewing this time could be vastly different and might even be the Director, Vice President or owner. PANEL INTERVIEW: In this case, the candidate has to face a panel of interviewers. He must not become nervous and must keep calm and confident at all times. GROUP INTERVIEW: Here the candidate will be interviewed with a group of other candidates at the same time. He will most probably be asked question that will make him interact with others. This will be done for the interviewers to get a sense of how the candidate will work in a team, if hired. TOP 5 TIPS FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW There might be instances where the candidate might face different types of interviews during the second interview. It could start with the hiring manager, go up to senior managers and finally culminate into a panel meeting, consisting of other senior managers. The candidate must be prepared for such an event and must face it with confidence. Here are some tips on how he can do that: Every person must be treated with respect, regardless of the type of interview the candidate is facing. He must shake hands firmly with everyone present, make eye-contact and repeat their names as they are introduced to him. If appropriate, he must also ask for their business cards. The candidate should not forget to access and analyze the people interviewing him. He should be comfortable in their presence as he will be working with them every day, if hired. He should re-consider the entire job position if he does not like the impression and the atmosphere created by his potential colleagues. It is very important for the candidate to do his research and come prepared. It is more likely that the questions in this round will be more specific, analyzing closely every skill of his and how well he fits into the job position. He might even be tested on his knowledge about the company and the industry and that is why it is very important for the candidate to do his homework. Answers must be short and specific. The candidate should avoid rambling, talking too fast, or too slow and holding his breath while speaking. He should take a moment to think before answering but should not take too long. His answers should not be terse and he should be careful about not losing his train of thought. Lastly, the candidate should keep it honest. He should think long-term and how he is potentially making a life-changing decision. Not being honest could backfire and negatively impact his life in the long run. The MBA student’s ultimate goal lies to prove himself as a stellar candidate who is an ideal fit for the job. He should be very well prepared for the second interview as that is where the companies really tend to drill their candidates to see whether or not they truly fit the job description. The candidate should practice some sample questions that are often asked during second interviews. His answers should ideally be tailored for the company and the job and he should infuse information in them about his skills and abilities as required. By following the above tips, the MBA student won’t find it very hard to ace his second interview and land his dream job.