Credit Management March 2018

OPINION
Preparing for success
The first interview went well and you’ve been called back
for the all-important second interview. What’s next?
AUTHOR – Karen Young, Director at Hays
Karen Young
The objectives of the
interviewer at this stage
will differ from the first
time round as they delve
further into your motivation
for the job, your skills,
whether you’re a good fit for
the company culture and
addressing any reservations
they may hold from the first
interview.
YOU’VE made a good first
impression at the first
interview and have been
asked back for a second
interview. The company
is now seriously considering
hiring you and as a result you’ll be
feeling more confident as you take a step
closer to securing the job. However, you
may still be wondering what to expect as a
second interview can differ from the first
in a number of ways.
A more senior figure will most likely
be conducting the second interview depending
on the size of the company. Confirm
this with your recruiter beforehand
so you can do some research into the person,
either on LinkedIn or via the company
website. Check the format of the interview
beforehand as well, you don’t want to
find yourself preparing for a one-on-one
interview to then be faced with a panel of
stakeholders or delivering a presentation.
You’ll feel more confident knowing who
will be on the other side of the table.
The objectives of the interviewer at
this stage will differ from the first time
round as they delve further into your motivation
for the job, your skills, whether
you’re a good fit for the company culture
and addressing any reservations they may
hold from the first interview.
Your level of interest in the opportunity:
People are often turned down at
interview because employers just don’t
believe they are highly motivated or want
the job enough. Don’t underestimate the
effectiveness of vocalising your interest.
The interviewer will be looking to determine
whether you’re still interested in
the opportunity after having learnt more
about the company and role in the initial
interview stages and through your research.
Speak about what you found interesting
from the first interview and use the
opportunity to ask any questions you may
have. This will give the interviewer an indication
of how well you would perform if
offered the job, so make sure this comes
across.
Communicating your skills and experience:
The interviewer will want to explore
your skills further and hear detailed
evidence of your competencies. ‘Describe
a time you have used effective management
skills’ or ‘how would you approach
a difficult situation’ are likely questions
at this stage. Credit management professionals
often need to explain complex financial
topics to colleagues who may not
be as familiar with the world of credit or
finance, so be sure to answer questions
clearly and succinctly to demonstrate this
ability.
Are you the right ‘fit’? They will also
want to establish whether you’ll be a good
fit for the culture of the organisation and
you may be taken around the office to meet
potential colleagues. Be yourself throughout
this exercise, as assessing cultural fit
is essential for you to be confident it is the
right role for you. With this in mind, perhaps
prepare your own questions such as
asking what the team is like, or what your
interviewer enjoys about working there.
Address any doubts the interviewer
may have: It’s possible that the interviewer
may be holding some reservations from
the first interview that they’ll be looking
to address in the second. Recall any questions
that you were asked multiple times,
or anything you struggled to answer and
ask your recruiter for feedback to help
you address these second-time round. If
there are any gaps between your skills and
the job requirements consider addressing
these with your recruiter, or commit to
learning them in the future. Emphasise
that you’re a fast learner and are keen to
develop yourself, showing the interviewer
that you’ll be worth any investment the organisation
will put into your training and
development.
Salary expectations: Salary and notice
period are often a topic of conversation
at this stage. Have this information ready
beforehand. If you’re unsure of how to
negotiate your salary discuss with your recruiter
or consult a tool such as our online
salary checker which can help you understand
what your potential earnings could
be.
Remember, good lasting impressions
count. Thank your interviewer for their
time and contact your recruiter as quickly
as possible after the interview to reiterate
your interest in the role.
Understanding the purpose of second
interviews can help you to improve your
preparation strategy and show an interviewer
exactly why they should hire you
above everyone else.
The Recognised Standard / www.cicm.com / March 2018 / PAGE 72