Ask These Questions on Your Second Job Interview

The interview process has gotten way more complicated over the past several years. We recently provided some advice on how to prepare for and deal with a second job interview; however, there’s still more ground to cover. A second interview goes into further detail about your skills and how they might apply to the role in question. In addition to this, you’ll have another opportunity to ask any questions you might have at the end of the interview. Here are some great questions to ask on your second job interview.

“What are the biggest challenges for this position?”

The purpose of this question is to gain insight into the challenges you might be facing if you’re hired. Keep in mind that depending on the role and the company you’re applying for, the nature of these challenges may vary wildly. If you’d like to get more specific, you could ask which challenges you can expect to deal with during your first year of employment. Either way, knowing what you’re getting yourself into will help you to prepare more effectively. Additionally, asking this question will show the interviewer that you’re thoughtful, and that you like to think ahead.

“What challenges has [company name] recently faced?”

Building off of our first question, you can also ask the interviewer about any challenges the company has faced as a whole. This might give you an idea of how well the company is doing financially, and can also provide valuable insight into how the company approaches and deals with problems. This question will also earn you bonus points with the interviewer, as it demonstrates your interest in both the role in question, as well as the company at large.

“What would a typical work day look like for this role?”

This question will give you an inside look at what your day-to-day experience with the company might be like if you’re hired. The interviewer might provide you with details such as when the work day starts and ends, which tasks and responsibilities are the highest priority for the role in question, how many breaks you get throughout the day, or which other departments you might be working with. All of this information will help you to determine what your typical work day might look like, and whether you’d be a good fit for the role.

“How does [company name] provide feedback to its employees?”

Feedback is very important. When an employer provides regular feedback, its employees are more cognizant of the things they’re excelling in, as well as which areas need improvement. Most often, feedback is provided through formal performance reviews, and the frequencies of such reviews may vary depending on the company. This question will give you an idea of a company’s methods for providing feedback, as well as how often it conducts performance reviews.

“In what ways can this role best impact [company name]?”

Asking this question will show the interviewer that you’re interested in the role at hand, and that you’re also invested in the overall success of the company you’re applying to. Along with this, it’s important to understand how you can have a positive impact on your team, and the ways in which the role you’re applying for can improve the company at large. The interviewer might provide specific examples of how former employees helped to improve processes, or how their contributions to certain projects helped other departments succeed in their goals. With this knowledge, you can start making positive contributions right out of the gate in the event you’re hired for the position.

“Why is [company name] hiring for this role?”

This question may help you detect any issues within the organization such as high employee turnover, or a toxic workplace environment. If the role was recently and suddenly vacated, it could mean something’s off. On the other hand, if the former employee left amicably and provided ample time for the company to fill the role, it’s probably a good sign. Use your intuition and listen very carefully to the interviewer’s response—it should tell you everything you need to know.

“What are the next steps?”

This is a pretty standard question that anyone should ask at the end of an interview. Assuming this is indeed your second interview with a company, you should be reaching the conclusion of the hiring process. This question will provide you with information such as how long you can expect to wait for a response, and the method in which you’ll receive a response. In addition to this, you may be able to use your intuition to read the interviewer. If they seem excited, it’s more likely you’ll get the job. If they seem bored or uninterested, it could be a bad sign.

Job interviews can be tough, so it’s best to be prepared. As always, remember to conduct research into each and every company you apply to. Taking notes will help you to remember which company is which, as it can get confusing when you’re applying to multiple jobs in quick succession. When on an interview, ask questions that you can get the most information out of, as they will help you determine which job is right for you.