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Posted by Niche Recruitment
20th October 2022
Top 10 Tips to Smash Your Second Stage Interview
Niche’s Second Stage Interview Guide, to Help You Get The Job.
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the second stage of the interview process. Once the excitement has settled down, you might find yourself wondering what exactly a second stage interview will entail and what you need to do to prepare. Well worry no longer, we’ve got you covered. Here is Niche’s top 10 tips to smash your 2nd stage interview.
1) Do Your Homework
The second stage interview will be a more in-depth discussion regarding the role you have applied for. That means, you need to be ready for more detailed questions, the trick to nailing this? Research! Do a deep dive into both the role and company, you’ll want to know as much as you can. From company values to the day-today tasks your role will involve, you can never know too much.
2) Read the Agenda
If your second stage interview is in person and your employer hasn’t provided you with a detailed schedule for the day, politely request an agenda. This will help prepare you for what to expect from the day. Some may be more detailed than others, but the majority will include the names of those who will be interviewing you, the dress code, and the order of events.
4) Be Confident
You’ve reached the second stage, which means they already see your potential! So be confident, talk with your hands and show excitement. Show them that you know your stuff and speak with authority, it might not come naturally, but fake it till you make it, and you’ll leave a positive impression.
5) Use the STAR Interview Technique
When asked a question at an interview, it can be difficult to always remember to give an example in your answer. To help you with this, Niche Recruitment recommends using the STAR method to structure your responses.
Situation:
Give necessary context to your story by describing the situation. Keep this brief, as it’s all about your actions in this example rather than the scene.
EX: ‘Whilst working as a Marketing Manager at my previous company, there was one occasion when…’
Task:
Give some detail regarding your role during the situation.
EX: ‘As the manager of the team, it was my role to ensure all work was being completed…’
Action:
Explain the actions that you took to handle the situation, this is where detail will be necessary as this will describe your suitability for the role you are applying for.
Ex: ‘I produced a timeline for all projects on a shared documents to ensure…’
Result:
What result was achieved because of your actions? Decide 2 or more ways your actions improved the situation.
EX: ‘By providing a clear project and process…’
5) Physically Prepare
Going into a high-stress situation and selling yourself is exhausting, often you might find yourself reaching for the duvet when you return home or grabbing a coffee to give you boost. This is a normal response to stress.
When you find yourself in a stressful situation like an interview, your sympathetic nervous system takes over; your heart rate increases, your muscles tense, breathing becomes shallow. All this takes a toll on your body. So maybe the best advice we can give you to be well rested and fed before your interview. Make sure you arrive as your best self and give your body a head-start before you enter stress mode.
6) Prepare a Presentation
2nd stage interviews will often involve you discussing your own ideas with the interviewer. Treat this like a pitch and come prepared, impress your interviewer with a presentation displaying your ideas visually. The more prepared you are the better so spend some time on this, really sell what you can bring to the role.
7) Have Questions Ready
If your mind went blank during your first interview when you were asked if you had any questions about the role, this is your time to impress!
The second stage of an interview process is a great opportunity to bring up the selling points and questions that you didn’t get the chance to cover before. Think about some questions that you can ask your interviewer about the company or role. This shows a genuine interest and understanding about the industry you’re entering and the requirements of your role.
EX: What would a typical day look like in this role? Click here to read some more examples.
8) Dress Appropriately
Yes, even if it’s virtual! In-person or online, dress for success when getting ready for your interview. Not only will it impress your interviewer, but it will also make you feel super confident. If you have confidence in yourself, then you’re half-way there.
9) Show Gratitude
Simply showing that you are grateful for the opportunity is an easy way to gain your interviewer’s favour. Send a follow up email after your interview thanking the company for the opportunity and reminding them of how excited you are about the job.
10) Be Yourself
We aren’t trying to sound cheesy when we tell you to be yourself. But the reality is people love people that they can relate to, so show your human side and remember to enjoy the process.
If you’re a Niche Recruitment candidate and receive an invitation for a 2nd stage interview, give your Niche recruiter a call for some advice, we’d be happy to go through some of your ideas with you!
