6 Questions to Ask During Your Second Interview

A second interview is essentially a callback for a job position, following a first interview. You may be asked to come back for a second interview if you made a positive impression in your first interview and it seems like your skills are a good match for the company. Depending on the company, the second interview may or may not be the final round of the interview process. Other companies may have additional rounds of interviews after a second interview.

You probably came to your first interview with a list of questions ready to ask the hiring manager. For a second interview, you should be prepared with more in-depth questions to ask the hiring manager. Here are some second interview questions to ask, if you make it past the first interview.

1. 1. What are the biggest challenges I’ll face in this position? Asking about the challenges you may face in this new position gives you a chance to show that you’re prepared to take anything on. If this is not a new role, ask what sort of difficulties the previous employee faced, and how they solved those problems.
2. 2. What is the management style for this company? This question can help you figure out if this is a company with a lot of middle management, or if employees largely work independently. You can gauge the amount of oversight or teamwork that will be necessary for the role, while showing the hiring manager or interviewer that you’re interested in how they run the business.
3. 3. What are the biggest challenges and victories you’ve faced at this company? Interviewers love to ask about “strengths and weaknesses,” and this question allows you to get a sense of the same from the interviewer. If the hiring manager will be one of your new direct co-workers, this question can help you gauge how you’d complement each other within the work environment.
4. 4. What else would you like to know about my work ethic? This question allows you to flex your skill set if you feel like your strengths haven’t been properly expressed or you want to leave a longer-lasting impression.
5. 5. What are the salary expectations? If you’ve made it to the second interview, it is generally acceptable to bring up how much compensation would be for the job. Rather than demanding a particular number, let the interviewer give you a range. If you’re selected for the position, you can always negotiate your salary before accepting the job offer.
6. 6. What are the next steps? Hiring managers may provide you with a timeline of when you should expect to hear back about the position. Ask what comes next after the second round of interviews without assuming that you’ve already landed the job.

You should take some time to prepare yourself for a second interview.

1. 1. Come prepared. A second interview will likely be more in-depth than your first interview. Be prepared to answer more detailed questions about your abilities, and come ready to share anecdotes or specific examples of your professional problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and effectiveness as a team player. Be ready to discuss your career goals relating to the company, and how you’ll benefit the organization as a whole.
2. 2. Do your research. Do some additional research about your prospective employer to help you understand their specific mission goals. An organization is more likely to hire someone who understands its company culture and values early on. Read the company website and browse their social media handles to find out helpful details about the business.
3. 3. Write down new and follow-up questions from the first interview. Bring a list of good questions to ask the interviewer, as well as any follow-up questions you may have from your first round. Re-read the job description or search online to make sure you’re not including common questions that have already been answered elsewhere.
4. 4. Be confident and professional. Just because you’ve made it to the second job interview does not mean you’ve landed the position. Mind your body language, eye contact, and tone, taking care to maintain your professionalism and interest, while avoiding making assumptions about your potential selection for the role.
5. 5. Send a thank-you note. You should follow up every interview by sending a thank-you note to your interviewer or interviewers. This shows that you’re serious about the job, and grateful to the team members who took the time to speak to you.

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