What Should Happen in a Second Interview?

When an employer invites you for a second-round
interview, don't expect a repeat of your first meeting.
Follow-up interviews usually follow a very different
and more complex structure. The interview could last
half a day or even an entire day, and will likely
include meetings with several people from the
organization, a tour of the company and more
extensive questioning than in your initial meeting.
It's also the time when you'll discuss details such as
salary and what's next in the hiring process.

You'll Meet More People
At your first interview, you likely met with just one or
two people. Because employers frequently conduct
the initial interview by phone, you may not have
spoken with anyone face-to-face. At your second
interview you'll probably interview with two or three
people or meet with potential supervisors and co-
workers at a series of meetings. The interviewer may
introduce you to several other members of the team as
well, to get a feel for how personable you are and
how you're likely to get along with your potential
colleagues.

You'll Tour the Facility
At a second interview, a question-and-answer
session is just the beginning. Many employers also
include a tour of the facility, in which you'll learn
about the processes and equipment the company uses
and how the office is set up. If the company has a
dining room, the interviewer may also invite you to
lunch to evaluate how you behave in a social setting.
If the company does not have its own dining facility,
the interviewer may ask you to accompany him and
other employees to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

You'll Answer More In-Depth Questions
First interviews often consist primarily of general
"getting to know you" questions. The interviewer
probably asked you about yourself and about your
education, skills and work history. At the second
interview, the employer will delve much more deeply
into your qualifications. Be prepared for comments
such as "Tell me about a time when you faced conflict
at work and how you handled it." Called behavioral
questions, these comments call for examples from
previous jobs illustrating how you used specific skills
or reacted in certain circumstances. The interviewer
may also bring up his concerns about your
application -- if you lack a required skill or if you
have gaps on your resume, for example.

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