What Are Your Strengths And What Do You Need To Improve
Next in a companys list of second round interview questions, theyll likely dig further into your skillset and technical abilities.
They established you could do the basics of the job in the first interview but now they want to know more.
And youre also likely to be asked, What do you need to improve?
So to prepare, think about an area youre trying to get better in, but make sure its not an area thats crucial to this job on day one! For example, you dont want to say your customer communication needs improvement if youre interviewing for a customer service job.
However, you could say that youre working on your leadership right now because you hope to move up to the Manager level eventually. That would be a good answer to this question!
Just be ready to give an example of how youre working to improve in this area, since they may ask a follow-up question about this, too.
Why Shouldn’t We Hire You
Romy Macasieb finds this question is a useful tool for excavating where a candidate still has room to grow. It goes much deeper than your standard What are your 3 areas of improvement? type questions, says the founding PM and current VP of Product at Walker & Company.
I like that it allows interviewees to play both sides of the table. They could highlight the skills theyre missing or why they might not be what were looking for by saying something like You shouldn’t hire me if you want someone that is quant-only, Macasieb says. But they can also turn the focus to why you might not be a fit for them. Ive heard responses like You shouldn’t hire me if you have an open office floor plan.
Tell Me About The Best And Worst Bosses Youve Ever Had Specifically In Your Career What Was The Difference
As the CEO of Foursquare, Jeffrey Glueck finds that candidates arent usually prepared for this question. They often reveal what makes them tick through their answers, he says. While the best one is interesting for picking up insight on how to get the most growth out of them, I often find that the worst boss answer is more interesting. You might learn that they react strongly to micromanagement, are fiercely independent, or are very individual comp focused.
The key is pushing candidates to get specific. Dont let them off with vague answers, says Glueck. They dont have to name names, of course, but you need to insist they talk about two specific bosses at specific companies, not generalizations.
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What Salary Would You Expect For This Role
You should be prepared to address salary expectations directly and honestly during your second interview. Use a range based on research about average salaries for your job title, industry and experience level. Keep the conversation open by mentioning how benefits would play into your decision and providing a range.
Example answer:For this role, I expect a salary between $55,000 and $60,000 annually. While I feel this is appropriate for my experience level and skill set, I am certainly open to discussing the numbers in more detail.
Why this is a good answer: The candidate offers a range instead of an exact number and explains that they are open to discussion, which allows the employer some level of flexibility. Ideally, the candidates goal salary is at the lower end of the range.
Related: Interview Question: What Are Your Salary Expectations?
Good Follow Up Interview Questions To Ask
What are the most important interview questions to ask candidates? Good follow-up interview questions ensure that the candidate, not the interviewer, is talking. They help the interviewer uncover the real story of a candidates accomplishments.
After every question you ask in an interview, what are some good follow up interview questions to ask?
- Interesting. Please tell me more.
- What made that important to you?
- How did you go about accomplishing that?
- What were the most important steps you took to make that happen?
But how do you put these into practice? Its easy to imagine yourself interviewing the perfect candidate, but every situation is different, and you wont always have a perfect opportunity. Ensure the most effective interview possible and get the most value out of your time with the candidate by asking good follow up interview questions.
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If I Were To Go And Speak To People Who Don’t Think Very Highly Of You What Would They Say
This question is clearly designed to probe the depths of a candidates self-awareness. But Gabriel Otte is also hunting for another quality: empathy.
Self-awareness isnt just about understanding your own shortcomings. Develop empathy for the people who dislike you otherwise youll get caught up in justifications and evasions that make it tough to truly internalize the criticism.
When I pose this question to candidates, Im always looking to see how much empathy they have for the people who dont like them, says Otte, the co-founder and CEO of Freenome . Do they evade or try to justify why people might not like them? Or are they in denial and think no one dislikes them?
Prepare Questions For Your Interviewers
At some point, your interviewers will likely ask if you have any questions for them. Its highly recommended to ask your interviewer relevant, thoughtful questions to give you a better understanding of whether the position is the right fit for you and show the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the role and company. Consider preparing a list of 5-10 questions to bring with you, and add questions to that list that arise during the interview.
Read more:
Research the company and your interviewers
Practice your answers to common interview questions
Study the job description
Answer questions using the STAR method
Recruit a friend to practice answering questions
Be prepared with examples of your work
Plan your interview attire the night before
Prepare smart questions for your interviews
Bring copies of your resume, a notebook and pen
Tie your answers back to your skills and accomplishments
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Why Is This Role Open
Ask why the position is open. Is it a new position? If yes, that probably means the department or company is growing. And, if thats the case, what are the plans to manage that growth? How quickly will the company grow, and what does that mean for you and your position?
If its not a new position, try to find out why the last person left. Was the previous person promoted? A yes is excellent news. That means theres the potential for upward growth at the company. If the person was fired or quit, you probably cant find out the exact circumstances that led to that. But, depending how the interviewer handles the question, you may get a feel for how the situation was handled, and that can help guide your decision.
Brush Up On Your Trade
The second interview will be a more in-depth conversation about the role and your abilities. In certain professions, it may also be a time for the interviewers to test your industry knowledge or technical skills. The agenda should let you know what type of interviews to prepare for, so be on the lookout for technical interviews, case studies or presentations that will test your skills and plan accordingly.
You should also bring ideas and recommendations for the team, product or program youll be working on if possible. For example, if youre interviewing for a social media marketing job, you might bring ideas based on your research of the organizations current social media content. If it comes up in conversation, preparing this way shows that youre serious and excited about the job. It also shows youre competent enough to have opinions and ideas based on your experience and expertise.
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How Is Performance Measured
How will your boss or the company measure your performance? Is there a quota you have to meet , or are you measured on something a little more subjective ? Are the measurements something under your control, or are you subject to the whims of others?
Equally as important, how often will the company measure your performance, and how often will they give you feedback? Will you only find out at the end of the year how well youre performing? Or will you meet with your supervisor regularly to review your performance and discuss ways you can improve it? This can also give you insight on company culture and the overall management approach of the employer.
How Do You Make Decisions
This is a question thats especially common in a second interview. In this second round, theyre trying to dive deeper into your behaviors and personality.
In general, when the hiring manager asks, how do you make decisions? they want to see that youre calm and logical in your decision-making. So its best to show them that you follow a calm, logical process.
For example, you could say you weigh the likely outcomes and risks in a decision, and then choose the action that you feel will bring the best estimated result.
Its not always possible to know how a decision will turn out, but the employer will feel a lot more comfortable hiring you and working with you if you show them that you try to make your best estimate/analysis!
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Questions You Should Ask At A Second Job Interview
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
Related: Why You Should Ask Questions in an Interview
Jenn explains the importance of asking questions during an interview in order to learn about the job and showcase the value you could add to the role.
Second interviews offer candidates a closer look into the daily operations of a workplace. It’s helpful to ask questions that provide an understanding of a company’s culture and potential challenges within the position. Learning the right questions to ask during a second interview can help you better determine if you’re a good fit for the position and company. In this article, we discuss why it’s important to ask questions during your second interview and provide a list of questions for you to consider.
Is There Anything You Need Me To Elaborate On
Asking the interviewer: Do you have any questions for me? might be too broad and generic. Maybe they did have a question, but they forgot about it.
Asking Is there anything else you need to help make your decision? in your follow-up e-mail might result in the interviewer asking you to send a certain document, or just a simple no if they cant remember anything.
But, asking the interviewer if there is something you need to explain in more detail, or, even better mentioning a certain point you feel was left unresolved can give you an opportunity to sell your skills and experience one more time. So, dont hesitate to ask this question when sending your follow-up email!
Asking the right questions in your follow-up email can make a big difference. By asking strategic questions, you will show the interviewer that youre truly interested in the job, and that youre not just sending a generic thank-you e-mail.
Dont forget to tailor your questions to each specific job interview, and make sure to keep them brief and to the point.
And, if youre unsure about your interview skills or you just cant seem to find the right job dont hesitate to contact us!
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Is There Anything From Your Earlier Interview That Youd Like To Discuss
Interviews are, in theory, a continuing conversation between two parties. The hiring manager isnt just evaluating you, youre also scoping out the company. This question is a way to continue the conversation from your first interview and is actually a nice gesture from the interviewer. Theyre giving you a chance to lead the conversation.
Selling The Role In The Second Interview:
If you think this candidate is a great fit during the second interview, it’s time to start selling them on the position.
It’s likely you’re not the only person they’re interviewing with, and if they’re a top candidate there’s likely to be a bit of a tug-of-war over them in the current competitive hiring market.
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Your Availability And Salary Expectations
During a second job interview, the hiring manager will often ask about your notice period and salary expectations. Have this information ready and be prepared to discuss your salary expectations for this position. If you are unsure how to negotiate your salary, research current typical salaries in our Hays Salary Guide and check out our advice on how to discuss salary expectations in a job interview.
Demonstrating Your Soft Skills
It is no longer enough to have the technical skills needed for the job.
Other competencies, the so-called soft skills, are now increasingly more valued. Communication skills, commercial interest and team collaboration are highly sought-after skills. Such qualities are definitely seen as a bonus during the selection process.
Some second interview question examples targeting soft skills could include:
- Can you tell me about a time when you worked successfully as part of a team?
- How do you deal with internal and external stakeholders?
- How do you prepare for meetings?
- What type of management style do you prefer?
- How have you resolved a conflict with a colleague or superior?
- Are you willing to delegate or do you prefer to deal with tasks yourself?
- When have you had to take the lead and inspire others? How did you do this?
The hiring manager wants to look beyond your resume and find out if you would be a good fit with the company culture and team.
Understanding your people skills and your preferred method of working is essential for employers to see if you are the right person for the job.
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Questions To Ask A Ceo In An Interview
When youre trying to get a job in any industry, chances are youll go through more than one interview. Some job interviews are first conducted over the phone or via email, then youll speak to the heads of the department you want to join, and finally, once youve successfully passed all of the previous steps, youll be interviewed by the companys CEO or Chief Executive Officer.
They will have the final decision on whether youll be hired or not, so needless to say, youll want to impress this person the most. You might think that this interview is just a formality, but dont be fooled. The CEO didnt become a leader by accident. Theyve earned their place through hard work, meticulous decision-making, and skill.
After youve answered the questions that the leader of the organization has for you, they will ask you if you have any questions of your own. As shown during this article, this is an important step in the hiring process, so youll need to prepare those questions beforehand.
What are some of the most important questions to ask a CEO in an interview? Lets find out:
18. How does communication happen between senior management and other levels?
Whether youre applying to be a senior-level employee or a junior, this question is a must.
19. Where do you see the company expanding or focusing its efforts in the next few years?
20. I want to join a certain department. How do you see its role in the companys growth?
Describe Your Ideal Workday
This prompt might seem simple, but answering it is surprisingly tricky. You dont just want to talk about what youd like to see in a workday. Instead, you want to make sure your answer lines up with the realities of the job youre trying to land as much as possible.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
My ideal workday involves a fix of activities. I like to balance challenging projects with duties I handle regularly. That helps me stay engaged, ensuring Im at my best no matter what kind of tasks Im tackling. Plus, it creates opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate while also allowing me to put my current skills to work and take on tasks independently.
One thing I particularly enjoy is a warm-up and cool-down at work. For example, I prefer to spend the first 15 minutes of the day sorting through email, as that allows me to review any critical messages before I begin tackling tasks. Then, I like to spend the last 15 minutes of the day preparing for the next workday, creating a to-do list, gathering materials, and otherwise setting myself up for success. Its an approach I used at my last job, and I found it was very effective, allowing me to boost my productivity dramatically.
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Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job
Dont be alarmed. Second-round interviews tend to get a bit more probing than first-round interviews, so you should be prepared for interviewers to want to dig a bit deeper. The interviewer is going to try to find any red flags from your previous experience, including why you are leaving or have left your most recent role. Were you fired or are you just looking for a more challenging role? Was there something else you werent getting from your last job that this job will offer you? Or are you likely to leave this job quickly for similar reasons?
