• Have the personality and style to fit in with the company and department you will work in
• Are competent enough to do the job

What is the difference between first and second interviews?

Human Resources normally conduct the first interview. They are checking out your academic background, skills base and experience to see that they tie in with your CV.

Generally, questions will be more in-depth than the first interview, so it is important to show off your personality and give fuller answers to the questions.

So what to do?

Think back to your first interview:

• Be prepared to go more in-depth into the areas that were covered before
• If any information was given to you in the first interview, be prepared to answer questions on that
• Were there any questions you found hard to answer in the first interview? Try to think of answers to these questions
• Although you may be asked the same questions, try to answer differently or with different examples, your interviewer may have made notes from the first interview
• Try to think of new ideas relating to the job as well as talking about previous experience
• Try to be confident and succinct with your answers, try to express your strengths and remain calm

In the first interview you face the ‘killer questions’ and ‘interviewers' favourites’. The second interview is a chance for you to turn the tables.

Asking questions shows you are interested in the job and the company, so try to think of some questions prior to the interview, these might include:

• What will I be expected to accomplish in my first six months?
• Are there opportunities for advancement?
• What is the company work ethic?
• Will I receive training or support for my professional development?

Remember, although they are interviewing you for a position they need to fill, you are also interviewing them to see if it is a job you want to do. You can use this opportunity to ask questions about the office environment, any social activities and maybe even get the chance to meet your potential colleagues and see what they think of the company and office environment.

After the interview

• If you are using a recruitment consultant remember to give them feedback as soon as possible. Include any areas that you feel did not go well and if you feel as though you left something out then this can be conveyed in the consultants' call to the employer
• If you are interviewed directly, try to send a letter thanking the interviewer for the meeting and expressing your interest in the job
• If you are offered the job whilst in the second interview and are unsure how to answer, just be sure to be polite, thank them for the offer and say that you would like some time to think about it