A guide to Second Interviews

A handy guide for managers on running effective second interviews

A second interview may not be required for every position. In general, we recommend them for more senior positions or where the position will interact with a range of stakeholders and you want a sense check on how they may fit with another manager/department.

Second interviews are useful for:

Help choose the best candidate if your first interviews identified 2 or more potentially
great people.
Check the candidate’s suitability in more detail. If in doubt, invite the candidate back.
Don't risk hiring the wrong person.
To introduce 1 or more candidates to somebody else in your organisation to share the decision making.

When you get to second interview you are talking to people who you believe can pretty much do the job.

You are seeking more detail and gathering information which will help you bring them into the company more effectively.

As you have already established a relationship through the first interview, spend more time
talking generally with them at this interview, get to know a bit more about them, have coffee and put them at ease.

The preparation and set-up is much the same as the first interview, but obviously they do not need to fill out the Application Form again.

Remember that MyHR can prepare the 2nd interview questions for you, we base these on things that you have identified from the first interview you want to probe on. There is nothing to be gained by asking the same questions over again at the second interview.

Remember, if you intend to include a Trial Period in the employment agreement you need to allow ‘reasonable time’ for the applicant to consider the job offer so don’t delay!

Once you have issued the employment agreement we recommend you allow at least 2
working days for them to review, ask questions and seek advice before signing.