the difficult second interview
Discussion
Hoping to pick the brains of anyone who has been in this situation, as I've never got to this stage before.
I had an interview yesterday pm. The role is IT support, for an expanding company. Reading between the lines, the job is IT support plus a bit more for the right person.
This interview was purely a technical test, then a face to face with the IT manager.
He did tell yesterday that they would call me back for a second interview with HR bods and one of the directors.
I realise its difficult to ascertain, but what can I expect them to bat my way?
Thanks
I had an interview yesterday pm. The role is IT support, for an expanding company. Reading between the lines, the job is IT support plus a bit more for the right person.
This interview was purely a technical test, then a face to face with the IT manager.
He did tell yesterday that they would call me back for a second interview with HR bods and one of the directors.
I realise its difficult to ascertain, but what can I expect them to bat my way?
Thanks
I know noting about IT but presumably if yesterdays interview was technical then the next one is purely a normal interview to see if you fit as a person?
If you've never been to an interview before, presumably that means you also haven't had a job before?
Assuming you are fairly personable one of the key things they will be looking for is whether you are likely to be loyal/stick around. Perhaps the biggest problem with first jobbers is that a company spends time and effort training them and then they move on as soon as they have a job on their CV and a bit of experience. Lots of the hidden meanings behind the questions will be to try and ascertain this.
The way to approach this is to find a bit about the company and think in advance as to answers which will make it seem like you are interested in both the job and the company long term. It is also very important that you are categorical that you want THIS job for THIS company and are not just looking for any job
eg
"I realise this company is expanding and gaining an increasingly good reputation. The thought of growing with a company excites me and I assume that with expansion will come career opportunities down the road?" is a good answer to about 10 different questions (note the turning it into a question at the end)
As said, I don't know much about IT so this advice could be utter b
ks but it is definitely correct for the majority of companies.
If you've never been to an interview before, presumably that means you also haven't had a job before?
Assuming you are fairly personable one of the key things they will be looking for is whether you are likely to be loyal/stick around. Perhaps the biggest problem with first jobbers is that a company spends time and effort training them and then they move on as soon as they have a job on their CV and a bit of experience. Lots of the hidden meanings behind the questions will be to try and ascertain this.
The way to approach this is to find a bit about the company and think in advance as to answers which will make it seem like you are interested in both the job and the company long term. It is also very important that you are categorical that you want THIS job for THIS company and are not just looking for any job
eg
"I realise this company is expanding and gaining an increasingly good reputation. The thought of growing with a company excites me and I assume that with expansion will come career opportunities down the road?" is a good answer to about 10 different questions (note the turning it into a question at the end)
As said, I don't know much about IT so this advice could be utter b
ks but it is definitely correct for the majority of companies.If the director's coming in then it will be less technical than before and more a general interview. If the director starts talking about AJAX and Perl then I'd be very surprised.
If he starts talking about how he wants to give the secretary a pearl necklace, then that would be expected.
If he starts talking about how he wants to give the secretary a pearl necklace, then that would be expected.
Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 21st May 09:54
rog007 said:
This is their chance to learn more about you as a person as well as a chance for you to size them up. Be confident, be yourself and go in with a smile on your face. If you're right for them, you'll get the job; if not, then view it as the right thing for both of you. Good luck!
Thanks for that, obvious I suppose.blindswelledrat said:
I know noting about IT but presumably if yesterdays interview was technical then the next one is purely a normal interview to see if you fit as a person?
If you've never been to an interview before, presumably that means you also haven't had a job before?
Assuming you are fairly personable one of the key things they will be looking for is whether you are likely to be loyal/stick around. Perhaps the biggest problem with first jobbers is that a company spends time and effort training them and then they move on as soon as they have a job on their CV and a bit of experience. Lots of the hidden meanings behind the questions will be to try and ascertain this.
The way to approach this is to find a bit about the company and think in advance as to answers which will make it seem like you are interested in both the job and the company long term. It is also very important that you are categorical that you want THIS job for THIS company and are not just looking for any job
eg
"I realise this company is expanding and gaining an increasingly good reputation. The thought of growing with a company excites me and I assume that with expansion will come career opportunities down the road?" is a good answer to about 10 different questions (note the turning it into a question at the end)
As said, I don't know much about IT so this advice could be utter bks but it is definitely correct for the majority of companies.
I have had several interviews before, but were largely technical, not progressing to round 2. I am in employment at the moment, but successful interviews have always eluded me. Thanks for the input, noted.If you've never been to an interview before, presumably that means you also haven't had a job before?
Assuming you are fairly personable one of the key things they will be looking for is whether you are likely to be loyal/stick around. Perhaps the biggest problem with first jobbers is that a company spends time and effort training them and then they move on as soon as they have a job on their CV and a bit of experience. Lots of the hidden meanings behind the questions will be to try and ascertain this.
The way to approach this is to find a bit about the company and think in advance as to answers which will make it seem like you are interested in both the job and the company long term. It is also very important that you are categorical that you want THIS job for THIS company and are not just looking for any job
eg
"I realise this company is expanding and gaining an increasingly good reputation. The thought of growing with a company excites me and I assume that with expansion will come career opportunities down the road?" is a good answer to about 10 different questions (note the turning it into a question at the end)
As said, I don't know much about IT so this advice could be utter b
ks but it is definitely correct for the majority of companies.Hoofy said:
If the director's coming in then it will be less technical than before and more a general interview. If the director starts talking about AJAX and PERL then I'd be very surprised.
If the director starts talking about AJAX or PERL, I will be both surprised and flummoxed!The IT Manager, now judging by the little practical test he set up yesterday, such topics would entertain him immensely :-)
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