Questions You’ll Likely be Asked at a Second Interview

Congratulations on making it to the second interview stage in your job search! This is huge … but you haven’t nailed it just yet. Be sure you continue to prepare diligently before this critical conversation takes place.

Reflect on the high points and most important topics discussed during your first interview. What did you say that caught your interviewer’s eye in a positive way? What new things did you learn about the role and the company? Be ready to elaborate on these points or to tactfully weave them into the conversation.

At any interviewing stage, practice makes perfect. Rehearse Q&A’s ahead of time so you can handle them smoothly yet without sounding rehearsed. This continues to build your comfort level and confidence as you prepare to be scrutinized more extensively.

Here are five of the more common second-interview questions that tend to be asked:

1. What makes you a good fit for this role?

You were probably asked some variation of this question during Round One. But there’s bound to be some repetition, because it is a critical one, both for an employer and for you. Respond in a way that’s specific to the job and the company. Make it about them: Talk about what you can do for the organization, not the other way around.

2. Is there anything from your first interview that you’d like to discuss further?

It may be tempting just to say, “no thank you” at this point, but instead, truly consider whether there was anything asked during your first interview that you could have addressed more clearly – or may have forgotten altogether – that would work in your favor.

3. What management style works best for you?

The hiring team is trying to confirm once and for all that you’d work well with their existing team. This question also helps them understand what kind of manager or boss would suit you best and whether your preference aligns with the work style of whomever the new hire would report to.

4. What would you hope to accomplish in the first few months?

With this question, your interviewer is trying to determine which candidate would be ready to hit the ground running once hired. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase all the research you’ve done on the job and the company. Paint a verbal picture of how you plan on learning more about current issues and projects, as well as acting on them.

5. What’s your target salary?

Money is always a sensitive topic, but you can smooth that out and leave room for negotiation by providing a salary range. Or, demur and ask your interviewer what the range for the position is, and take it from there.

Interviewing is never easy, even for the world’s greatest extrovert. But being prepared for it, at all stages, can ease the stress and turn it into a positive growth experience – not to mention helping you land the job of your dreams! The professional career coaches at PrideStaff Fresno can help. We can also get you started by connecting you to leading employers in areas including administration, customer service, IT, accounting, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production. Contact us today to learn more.