Job Interview Tips for Second Interviews

You did it! You followed all the job interview tips you know and impressed that manager job interviewer the first time around and so now you're invited for a second round of 'talks'. Now what? You read everything you could about job interviews (e.g., resume writing tips, business etiquette during a job interview, etc.) but now you feel that you need a different type of job interview tip. What do you do during second job interviews?

Second Job Interview Tips to Land You that Job Offer 
For the first job interview for that manager job, you spared nothing concerning your job resume. You may have even hired a professional resume writer just to ensure that you present yourself as a 'perfect fit' to the company's manager job description.

You invested in your appearance too. You 'aligned' your wardrobe to fit your career plans and even 
invested in an at-home tooth whitening system to improve the appearance of your smile (important for first impressions!).

But now that you've been called for a second job interview, the panic sets in again. Relax, you must have done something right the first time so just focus on these job interview tips we have for you and you'll be fine.

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A face to face job interview can be a stressful and nerve racking time, but here are some proven interview techniques and tips that you can use to help.

Arrive on time First, always arrive for your interview on time, preferably fifteen minutes early. Take the time to drive to the interview location the day before so you know where you are going. Make sure you know where to park, and look for unexpected delays, such as driving through a school zone at 3:00PM. There is nothing worse than going to a job interview and arriving late.

Body language Next, remember that most interviewers are watching your body language for clues about what type of candidate you are. When you first meet the interviewer, smile, make eye contact, introduce yourself, and extend your hand for a firm handshake. A weak handshake is a definite turnoff for most people. Sit up straight but relaxed, and give off an air of relaxed confidence.

Be a good conversationalist Many people tend to talk (or over talk) when they get nervous, so don't talk too much. When asked a question, answer it entirely but succinctly. Practice good conversational manners, and always allow the interviewer to finish speaking before you begin. Don't volunteer unnecessary information, and keep to the discussion topic.

Eliminate distractions Never go into an interview with your mobile phone turned on. There is nothing more distracting to an interviewer than hearing a mobile phone play the latest pop song during your interview. Put it on silent before you go in, or better yet, leave it in your car before you go inside. Anyone who wants to call you during that time can leave a voicemail. This is an important time for you, and you want no distractions.

Never speak badly about former employers Never talk bad about a former employer. This is a major turnoff for most interviewers. Most companies are very cognizant about their public images, and if you talk despairingly about someone you formally worked for, they will feel as though if you leave their employ, you will do the same about them.

Be positive Go into an interview with a positive frame of mind. Think to yourself, "I will be at my best in this interview. This person will have no choice but to hire me. I am going to nail this solid!" This will give you confidence that will show.

Ask good questions Write out a list of questions to ask the interviewer, especially some regarding the goals of the company and how the position you are interviewing for will contribute. Other good questions would be about how you can expect to be trained and evaluated. Use these interview techniques and tips to get that job you deserve, and good luck!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Post writes about interviewing techniques and job hunting strategies to help prospective candidates find employment quicker. To read more about job interview techniques and tips, visit his website at http://www.einterviewtechniquesandtips.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6669509



Interview Questions: Surprising Questions

Many interviewers will ask direct interview questions in these areas:

1. Coping
   Provide an example of a time at work when you knew expectations of you were unreasonable. Was your behavior mature or immature? And how?


2. Tolerance of Ambiguity
   Explain a time in your professional life when you were successful in dealing with an unstructured work environment.


3. Problem Solving
   Think of a time when you defined several solutions to a problem. How did you find the solutions and then choose the best one?


4. Goal Setting
   Describe a time when you followed a systematic process to define your goals and objectives.


5. Commitment to Task
   Hard work is necessary to achieve any goal. Provide examples of when you had to work hard to reach a goal. Be specific about your achievement.


6. Interaction
   Describe a time in your career when you helped someone else while building a good work relationship.


7. Creativity
   Provide an example of a time when you were inventive and explored new ways of working through a situation.


8. Versatility
   Everyone has encountered difficult coworkers. Explain the situation and describe how you handled the person and learned to work with them.


9. Reading the System
   Getting results often requires working within the politics and organizational climate. Describe a time that you had to read the situation and adjust to get the job done.


10. Team Building
    Describe a time when you created group commitment to goals by building teamwork and morale.


11. Decision Making
    Provide an example of a time when you resisted the temptation to jump to the first solution and gathered all the facts before making a decision.


12. Leadership
    Describe a time when your example served as a model for others to follow.



Interview Questions: Predictable Questions

These sample interview questions are typical in most job interviews. Know they're coming. Write out your answers and rehearse each one until you sound relaxed and confident.

1. Tell me something about yourself.
   Prepare a 30-second commercial about yourself that highlights your skills and the value you bring. Tailor this commercial to the job and the company. Remember to use key phrases within this brief monologue. Rehearse this until you know it without thinking about it. Make sure it is almost exactly 30 seconds in length.


2. How do you handle ambiguity? Change? Conflict?
   The interviewer is watching you closely for your reaction to this question. If you flinch, the other person will hone in on these topics, and the interview may never progress. Have concrete examples of your personal experiences with undefined tasks and large changes where conflict was present and handled appropriately.


3. What is the most difficult decision you have ever made?
   Ensure that your answer to this one is professional and impacted multiple people. Do not answer this one off the cuff. Have a great example that shows some risk – even if the result was a failure. The question is not, “what was the best decision?” A difficult decision can cost money, time, and resources, so be very specific about the result.


4. Why should we hire your over all other candidates?
   Walk a tight wire with your answer to this question. Write out a brief answer that makes a couple of good points without braggadocio. Confidence is essential, but overselling will kill the interview.

Interview Questions: The Behavioral Interview

About.com defines Behavioral Interviewing as follows:

Behavioral based interviewing uses interview questions aimed at discovering how the interviewee acted in specific employment-related situations.

Behavioral interviewing isn't hypothetical. It's less concerned with what you might be able to do on the job than it is with with what you have been able to do in the past. This gives the interviewer a very clear picture of what you are capable of.

Here are a few examples of behaviorally oriented questions:

"Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflicting priorities."

"Talk with me about a time when you had to address a conflict between co-workers."

"Did you ever have to manage a situation where a project or departmental budget was out of control?"

How to answer: Don't be thrown by a behavioral interviewing style. As this is an increasingly common technique, assume interview questions like these will be asked have your answers ready. The best way to do this is to make the best educated guesses you can based on your research. Remember that the interview is going to be looking for accomplishments that match clearly identified needs within his or her company. Think through your experience and find examples that demonstrate your success in dealing with identical or very similar situations. And back your story up with facts and figures.