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Job Interview Question

Sweetrice80

Sweetrice80

Deaf Mofo
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Messages
1,475
Location
Gaithersburg, Md
Hey guys, I got a second interview coming tomorrow. The first interview was easy imo, asked all basic questions and I guess I answered them pretty good. My question is do any of you have any sound advice to what to expect at a second interview? I mean I know they are not going to ask the same questions they did before. I am kind of leading towards thinking they will ask a lot more situational and what-if questions, oppose to the lets get to know you questions that I got in the first interview. Any advice is welcome.

Stuff I did so far, because I am trying to get a job in the National Instituion of Health (NIH), specificlly the EYE department, I have already looked up their most recent studies and research so I think I am pretty prepared to be able to carry out a conversation with them about what they do and what they plan to do in the near future.

Printed out my second "resume" package for the second interview (different people interviewing me this time).

I also went over their mission statement as well. Let me know if there is any major ideas that I am missing. I want to give myself the best chance I can in getting this Job.

Thanks again

David
 
If I call someone in for a second interview, it's to show them around and have them meet others in the department. It's more casual and I'm really just interested in hearing what the team thinks of the candidate as well as what the candidate thinks of the environment. I usually know who I want by the time I do a second interview and generally only bring in one or two people just to make sure it's all going to work out and that there are no deal breakers.
 
They now may have expected you to have done some deeper research, etc., and to be prepared with some specific ideas of how you'll contribute. On the first interview, sometimes hard to know til you hear more about the job, see the culture first-hand. So - have 2-3 ideas ready.
 
Wouldn't hurt to walk in with a few intelligent questions to ask them. You've already made the short list. It's okay to interview them to decide if this is a place you want to work at. Don't forget the basics - bring a notepad & pen, shake hands, write down names, send a second follow-up 'thank you' letter, and don't forget to turn your cell phone off (if you're bringing one).

Give them some milk, but don't give away the cow. Let them know you have ideas to contribute, but they'll have to hire you to get them.

Good luck!
 
gtadroptop said:
Wouldn't hurt to walk in with a few intelligent questions to ask them. You've already made the short list. It's okay to interview them to decide if this is a place you want to work at. Don't forget the basics - bring a notepad & pen, shake hands, write down names, send a second follow-up 'thank you' letter, and don't forget to turn your cell phone off (if you're bringing one).

Give them some milk, but don't give away the cow. Let them know you have ideas to contribute, but they'll have to hire you to get them.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I like that quote. Thanks alot!:thumbs:
 
When I conduct a second interview I ask an equal mix of job related questions and off the wall stuff. For example: "If you were an animal, what would you be and why?" or "If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who and why?" These let me gauge how someone responds to something they aren't expecting. It also helps me get to know the candidate better, since first interviews are done by a recruiting specialist.

My best advice, be honest and don't try to BS too much if you don't know something. Nothing I hate more than canned answers, meaning answers that you think I want to hear.

One of my favorites that I use is: "tell me about a time when you had to break a rule at work, and why did you do it?"

Good luck!
 
Doing research on the company and being prepared to have discussions about what you plan to bring to the table is always a good start. To be honest, every company does interviews different, but showing interest and doing your research beforehand never hurts. I know that the #1 thing I look for is interest in the company and/or field of work. You can always gauge this from the preparedness of the interviewee.

The first interview could have just been a screening and this one could be the big one. Or, this could be a "congrats your hired" type. Either way, good luck.
 
In my line of work -- web editorial content -- a second interview is usually about figuring out if a candidate is going to fit in with the rest of the team. It's one step beyond the qualifications and on to the person -- the total package interview, perhaps. My suggestion is to do the research about the organization, have anecdotal experience in the back of your head, and have plenty of questions ready for you to ask about the culture, the working environment, and what a commitment to the company means in the long term.

At this point they've invested time in talking to you further. It's now your chance to prove that your worth that extra time, but it's also a time for you to figure out if you really want to be there. Don't waste that opportunity.

Good luck.
 
We used a technique called STAR, Situation, Tactics (or Tasks), Actions and Results. It's a situational format. You give a general experience question and ask for a specific example siting each of the above. It eliminates the BS factor, or exposes it right away. For instance, give me an example of a problem performer you had to mentor, or give me a specific example of when you had to lead a team through influence without direct authority etc... etc....

The interviewee has to layout the situation, identify the key tactics or tasks to carry out, site what they took action on and the results ultimately achieved (or not, which is not necessarily bad).

If you can respond to questions in this format, it will show you have specific, relevant experience dealing with a given topic.

Hope this helps some. Good luck.
 
Be yourself, yourself. No false modesty, but don't be cocky. Look in the eyes, withiut beind creepy or contribrd.
NO Enbellishing. Ask questiond. Br friendly snd remember to offr your hsnd
Don;t dmell like booze or pot. Polished shoes and pressed clothes, neat hear.
 
MadMonk said:
Be yourself, yourself. No false modesty, but don't be cocky. Look in the eyes, withiut beind creepy or contribrd.
NO Enbellishing. Ask questiond. Br friendly snd remember to offr your hsnd
Don;t dmell like booze or pot. Polished shoes and pressed clothes, neat hear.
Click to expand...

Don't spell like this guy... :laugh:
 
buzzed said:
Don't spell like this guy... :laugh:
Click to expand...

Best advice so far. :D

Slightly off topic... One of the guys here has an interview tactic where he gives the interviewee a Rubic's cube and asks him to solve it. While he's working on the puzzle the interviewer drills them with tough questions like "what if" scenarios followed by "give an example of when you.." etc... In our place of work we need people who can work under pressure. This tactic is great for sniffing out hot heads.
 
Has any interviewee ever removed one corner of the Rubic's Cube, taken it apart and reassembled it - so each color is on the right side - while being grilled with questions? I only ask because that is what i would have done.


dlow said:
buzzed said:
Don't spell like this guy...
laugh.gif
Click to expand...

Best advice so far.
biggrin.gif


Slightly off topic... One of the guys here has an interview tactic where he gives the interviewee a Rubic's cube and asks him to solve it. While he's working on the puzzle the interviewer drills them with tough questions like "what if" scenarios followed by "give an example of when you.." etc... In our place of work we need people who can work under pressure. This tactic is great for sniffing out hot heads.
Click to expand...
 
I think what you're going to experience, David, is dependent upon the interviewer. Everyone seems to have a different style. You've already done good things by looking up information about the organization - that's great ammunition to have. I agree with the comments above that indicate your qualifications have already met the grade, but now they want to find out how you'll fit in with the team. Also mentioned above - they may also want to find out how you work under pressure, but that's a more typical routine for high pressure jobs, like sales or deadline intensive jobs. Hard to say what else they'll ask you since I don't know what they asked you in the first interview. Just get a good night's sleep the night before, look sharp, be early, be yourself, and be hungry for the job. Employers like it when you're eager to work for them and really want the job. Lastly (and perhaps you expressed this in the first interview), make it clear you're in it for the long haul - that this is a long-term career move for you. No employer wants to think that they're going to spend all kinds of training dollars on you, only to have you leave after 6 months or a year.

Just my 2¢.
 
Hey guys,
Thanks for the great, great advice! I went to the interview showed up about half-hour early and the interviewer (The boss) was happy that I showed up late because he had a last min. meeting at 11:00 (which was when my interview was). I walked in the office and he tottally threw me off guard. Asked me how my football team was doing this year. (I put on my resume that I was a football coach for 3 years). Come to find out he was a high school football coach for 6 years. I was really debating to keep that part on the resume or to get rid of it because I feared that they will label me as a Jock. But it tottally worked out. He then explain what the postion is and asked me a few basic questions like where I see myself in 4 years. He stright up told me that If you are still in this postion in 4 years, that he did not do his job, because he believes that all emploees should get promotions.

At the end of the meeting he informally told me that I got the job. He said that he felt that I was a good fit for this postion and that I will receive a call in 2 to 3 days, to get started. As of right now, I did not formally get the job till I get a call from them. But it looks good. Thanks alot everyone!

David
 
Sweetrice80 said:
Hey guys, I got a second interview coming tomorrow. The first interview was easy imo, asked all basic questions and I guess I answered them pretty good. My question is do any of you have any sound advice to what to expect at a second interview? I mean I know they are not going to ask the same questions they did before. I am kind of leading towards thinking they will ask a lot more situational and what-if questions, oppose to the lets get to know you questions that I got in the first interview. Any advice is welcome.

Stuff I did so far, because I am trying to get a job in the National Instituion of Health (NIH), specificlly the EYE department, I have already looked up their most recent studies and research so I think I am pretty prepared to be able to carry out a conversation with them about what they do and what they plan to do in the near future.

Printed out my second "resume" package for the second interview (different people interviewing me this time).

I also went over their mission statement as well. Let me know if there is any major ideas that I am missing. I want to give myself the best chance I can in getting this Job.

Thanks again

David
Click to expand...

First it's the National Institutes of Health. Second, what position are you applying for? Third also look into the volume of grant applications that this particular institute process. See if you can research anything on the work of their top PIs-Principal Investigators. Fourth, be ready to speak about how you can facilitate pre-award and/or post-award administration. Again this is depending on what post you are interested in.

Hopefully this is helpful.

Best,

Joe

Edited to add: did not see that above may be moot! Congrats!
 
Sweetrice80 said:
As of right now, I did not formally get the job till I get a call from them. But it looks good. Thanks alot everyone!

David
Click to expand...

Nice one Sweetbread. Now is the time for a celebratory "Nekkid Lap" around the neighborhood. Preferrably when all the moms are coming back from Jazzercise... ;)
 
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