Tips to Ace the Second Job Interview

Question:

I applied for a job and made it through the initial evaluation and first interview. How should I prepare for the second interview? What types of questions may arise and how can I ace them? 

Answer:

 

Congratulations! If you’ve been invited to a second interview, also known as the call-back, you clearly made a good impression on the hiring manager the first time around. But the biggest challenge lies ahead. To ace your second interview, you need to know what makes it different from the first and prepare accordingly. 

 

Anticipate new faces and settings 

 

Firms often use second interviews to introduce job seekers to a wider range of senior partners and potential colleagues, and these types of interviews can last half a day or more. Expect a mix of formal interviews and more casual sit-downs, either one-on-one or in front of a panel. 

 

Depending on the position, the call-back may include lunch or even dinner. These meals offer a chance for everyone to get to know each other in a less formal setting but remember that this isn’t a casual social event. The interviewers want to evaluate your communication and listening skills and get a sense of how you would interact with clients and colleagues. 

 

Expect deeper questions 

 

First-interview questions assess whether you have the skills and experience to do the job. Second-interview questions assess whether you’re the ideal person to do the job. They will be tougher and deeper, testing both your legal knowledge and your ability to stay cool under pressure. Common call-back questions for legal professionals include: 

 

  • What aspects of our firm are most important to you?  
  • Tell me about a recent Supreme Court case you disagreed with and why 
  • What would the greatest drawback of this job be for you? 

 

Do more research 

 

If you know the names of the people you’ll be interviewing with, look through their LinkedIn bios and other resources to find out more about their roles and specialties. The interviewers will be expecting you to ask questions of your own and will be impressed if your inquiries show that you’ve done your homework. 

 

A final piece of advice: Be yourself. The firm is looking to hire a great employee, not a robot. Being professional doesn’t mean being stiff or detached, so let your personality and enthusiasm shine through. It could end up being the difference between you and the next best candidate.