SECOND INTERVIEW TIPS! (2ND JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS YOU MUST PREPARE FOR!) TOP-SCORING ANSWERS!

Normally, there will be different people at the second interview, because the hiring manager wants a second opinion. They may ask you some of the same questions you had to answer at the first interview, so make sure you review your responses.

Companies want to hire people who genuinely want to work at their company and who are going to excel in the job role. You can only do great things in your work if you are passionate.

During the second interview, say the following when they ask you the question, what makes you stand out from the other candidates?

“Three things make me stand out. Number one, I am incredibly passionate about my work, meaning I will get more work completed than the average person.

Number two, I am always seeking ways to grow, improve and diversify my skills. Whether it’s covering the duties of a co-worker, completing training courses, or taking on feedback from my manager, I am hungry to learn and grow.

Finally, perhaps the biggest thing that makes me stand out is that I am commercially aware. I understand you are running a business, and I need to produce great things in my work to give you a strong return on my salary.”

One of the most common, but hardest questions in a second interview is, what will you do in the first three months of starting work in this role?

Taking a pre-prepared 30, 60 & 90-day plan along with you to your second interview is a great way to show the hiring manager you are prepared, organised and serious about having a positive impact.

Give the following answer when they say to you, what will you do in the first three months of starting work in this role?

“In the first three months, I will focus on three key areas: understanding the company and role, taking action, and optimisation. In the first 30 days, I’ll immerse myself in learning, gaining a clear understanding of the role, the team dynamics, and company policies, while building strong working relationships.

In the next 30 days, I’ll begin setting and executing S.M.A.R.T. goals that align with company objectives, ensuring I deliver measurable value. By day 90, I’ll evaluate my progress, seek feedback, identify any training needs, and optimise my performance to ensure I continue making a strong, long-term impact. In fact, I have created a 90-day plan that informs you what I will do in this role and would like to give you a copy.”

Before your second interview, I strongly recommend you learn and understand the company’s leadership style, values and culture. When they say to you, why do you want to work for us, say something unique, like this:

“I want to work for you because your leadership style and values align with my core principles. Your CEO mentioned in a recent interview that empowering employees to take ownership is key to your culture. That really stood out to me because I thrive in environments where I can take the lead and contribute to a company’s commercial goals.”

A common, but difficult question to answer in a second interview is this:

What do you think our company could be doing better?

Unless you are prepared for this question, you will struggle to give a confident answer, and won’t get hired – let me give you a brilliant sample answer that you can write down and practice:

What do you think our company could be doing better?

“From my research and perspective as an outsider, I believe your company is already doing many things very well. That said, there could be opportunities to further enhance your growth and efficiency by exploring the integration of AI tools, particularly for customer support, content generation, or data analysis, to save time and personalise customer experiences.

Additionally, you may consider expanding your presence across a wider range of social and digital platforms. This could help increase visibility and brand engagement. For example, short-form video content, podcasts, or niche platforms could introduce your products and services to new audiences.

Lastly, introducing or expanding an affiliate marketing program might allow you to leverage the influence of industry partners, which could help drive additional revenue.”

A second interview is a two-way process – asking smart questions about the company, job role or what you can do to help them thrive will increase your chances of getting hired. Here are 3 great questions to ask:

Q1. What opportunities will there be for training and professional growth in the position?

Q2. What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing, and what can I do to help overcome them?

Q3. What is it that the top-performing employees do in the company to achieve success?

What’s your greatest achievement?

What type of work environment do you prefer?

Tell me about a time when you worked on a challenging project.

Why do you want to work for us?

What strengths can you bring to the role? (Best strengths are commercial awareness, problem solving, adaptability, resourcefulness and collaboration)

What is your biggest weakness? (Being impatient and finding it hard to say ‘no’ to people!)

What makes you stand out from the other candidates?

What would you do if you didn’t get on with somebody in our team?

Why do you want to leave your job?

Which part of the job do you think you’ll find most challenging?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?