Tips for second interviews

Having passed your initial interview with flying colours, the second interview is more serious. Now it’s all about you, your capabilities, your expectations and whether you would be a right fit for the job and organisation. As for any job interview, the key is to be well prepared, alert and ready to talk about yourself, your career and most importantly, what you could bring to the company.

1. Keep your focus

The worst thing you could do is presume that the job is yours. It’s not uncommon for candidates to lose out on jobs through over-confidence in their second interview. During your second interview it’s important to stay alert because there’s a good chance you’ll meet senior management and be probed further. Although it sounds obvious, it’s vital that you arrive punctually and appear confident, positive and enthusiastic. 

2. Prepare 

Make sure you’ve read the job description again carefully and learn as much as you can about the company. By thoroughly reading through annual reports on their website you should be able to gauge the organisation’s plans for its future.

The job market in Belgium is competitive, so your potential employer will want to dig deep into your history and find out what makes you tick, what motivates you and your aspirations. You should be prepared to go into detail about projects you’ve been involved in and the outcomes and results.

3. Demonstrate how you will fit in

Company culture has today become one of the most important factors for employees to thrive and better perform. During your second interview, your potential employer will try to find out if the company culture is the right fit for you. They will want to know whether you’ll fit in and get along with the rest of the team.

Be ready and willing to share your ideas and talk about what you could bring to the company, your goals, and how you’d like to progress professionally.Demonstrate how knowledgeable you are about their company and the markets they work within, and show that you’ve thought deeply about the role and what you could bring to their organisation.

4. Find out if it is right for you

The second interview is also your chance to interview your potential employer and find out if this is the right job for you. It is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about future company plans, how they picture your role and where you’ll fit into the greater scheme of things.

Interview don'ts

Ace your next job interview by avoiding the five mistakes job seekers most commonly make.