In the ideal scenario, when you are pleased with how the first interview went, you have some excellent opportunities to review and provide more detailed information. But what if you get called back for a second interview after an interview that you don’t think went very well – or with a poor interviewer. Then what?
Some of the advice is the same – but it definitely starts with some very different steps. The first step here is to thoroughly review the first interview. Why do you think it did not go well?
Did you leave the interview thinking there’s no way I’m getting this job – because the interviewer was strongly challenging your qualifications?
Was the interview short and unfocused – or maybe just a superficial review of your resume?
Was the interview more of a “sales pitch” by the company – with very few questions even directed at you? Did the interviewer take up the overwhelming majority of the time?
A significant possibility you should see here is simple: The interview may have gone poorly from your viewpoint – but not from that viewpoint of the hiring organization. This is not an unlikely possibility for a variety of reasons from the organization just not being very skilled at the hiring process (actually very likely) to their first interviews just being used (poorly) as a short screening device.
Your second interview might just be the first time the process gets serious with a better examination of your qualifications. Alternatively, if you think the interviewer was really challenging you, it may just be that you were begin questioned by a very challenging interviewer – who pushed you but decided you should be brought back for the next round.
On the downside, the poor interview, in your judgment, might be an indication of more significant issues within the company. Maybe this poor interview revealed some things about the organization that tell you this is not a company you really want to work for. Is this situation consistent with other information you’ve gathered about the organization? How did they communicate initially in setting up the interviews? Don’t be too quick to judge an organization on a first interview – in some ways it really is a first impression. The second interview can present an excellent opportunity to validate or challenge any poor impressions from the first interview – plus any interview experience is good practice.
The next steps are the same as with a good experience – Review the Questions and Your Answers from the Interview! It’s likely you left the first interview with the following:
“I wish I would have answered that question about ___ differently.”
“I wish I would have used my accomplishment at ___ instead of…”
“Why didn’t they ask me about my work at… ?
Before the second interview is your best opportunity to really prepare in a more focused direction. Now, review your accomplishments and rehearse your short, specific responses for the accomplishments you really want to present. Your responses should be short and include the challenge you faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved.
Take Charge
If your first interview was poor because the interviewer talked too much or asked what you think were really poor, maybe even inappropriate questions, this second interview is the time to be more assertive and take greater control of the interview. Think about the following scenario: if you only had once chance to present your case, your accomplishment that best represents your abilities for this job, what would it be? Seize a moment, right at the beginning of the interview to seriously present this. With a “storyteller” interviewer, it could be your only choice:
Thank you for asking me back for this second interview. I was thinking about an accomplishment from just the last six months. I was charged with…
If the first interview was more of a sales pitch to you, perhaps based on the company’s assumption that you are clearly qualified for the job (so they don’t need to ask you anything), now it’s your turn to ask critical questions about the job and the company. Look for the early opportunity to ask key questions:
If I were offered this position, and was very successful accomplishing the most important objectives in the first year (or first six months), what would I accomplish?
If, after just a few months in this position, I was seen as a very effective contributor to the team, what would be the important leadership (or team) characteristics being shown?
Your preparation can turn even a poor first interview into a situation where you have a better understanding of the position you’re considering and the hiring organization. Thoughtful analysis and preparation are always keys!
(Missed Part #1? Read the full article here.)This post was originally published on an earlier date.
Jim Schreier is a management consultant with a focus on management, leadership, including performance-based hiring and interviewing skills. Visit his website at www.farcliffs.com.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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