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| Steve Seeman, SVP, Makovsky |
The job search process can be a long, drawn out one.
Filling out online applications, constantly tweaking your resume and sending out e-mails at a rapid pace in hopes of landing that first interview can be a tedious journey.
However, when that phone call or e-mail response comes in requesting that you come in for an interview, all the hard work seems worth it.
In June, we provided several key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when heading to your first job interview—steps from having energy to thinking before your speak are all key points to consider prior to that initial meeting.
If followed, it’s likely the potential employee wants to get in contact with you for the all-important second meeting.
So now what?
Having been invited in for a second interview says a lot about you personally and what your potential employer saw in you as a candidate. But now it’s time to up the ante in round two.
Steve Seeman, senior VP at Makovsky (co-winner of PR News' Midsize PR Firm of the Year award), offers four tips to consider when preparing for your second interview:
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Just because you did research before your first interview doesn’t mean you should stop: Keep learning more about the company, its competitors, its clients, its recent history and the executives you will be meeting in round two. The more knowledge you can demonstrate during the meeting the better.
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Think of new relevant questions to ask: Believe it or not, colleagues will compare notes on their interviews, so you don’t want to come off as a “one-trick pony.”
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Reflect on your first interview, and find the key selling points you didn’t get a chance to make about yourself: Think about the questions the interviewers asked and look for trends. For example, if everyone you met with asked about your management style, that’s a clue that one’s supervisory skills are of the utmost importance. Find ways to show particular strengths in these areas.
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If you did extremely well in round one, don’t be afraid to ask your primary contact for some insight into what they’re looking for in round two: They will likely be happy to help direct your focus.
Follow Jamar Hudson: @jamarhudson