Interviews
How To Nail Your Final Interview & Get The Job
To help you to persuade the hirer that you’re the right person for the job, we delve into what the interviewer is looking for and offer tips so you can nail it.
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 17 Nov 2020
You’ve done your research and have mentally prepared yourself for the interview. You attend the first one and feel it went really well. The job is in reach and then they ask you to attend one final interview so they can be sure they’re hiring the right individual.
Now isn’t the time to lose your nerve or your ambition. Successfully making it through this final stage could see you starting a new job soon.
To help you to persuade the hirer that you’re the right person for the job, we cover the purpose of a final interview, who may lead it, we delve into what the interviewer is looking for and offer tips so you can nail it.
What a final interview is and its purpose
A final interview is where a company invites individuals who they shortlisted from the first round of interviews, back to have another chat and to allow them to ask further questions. Those selected for a final interview are the ‘best of the group’, so congratulations if your name is on the list. You obviously did enough to impress the hiring manager. Not all companies choose to hold final interviews, some do though to be sure that they’re hiring the right person. Hiring new staff or replacing someone who is leaving can cost thousands of pounds. So, it can turn out to be an expensive mistake if the company gets it wrong. Cultural fit is also important to a lot of businesses. Bringing in new people who have a synergy with the business’ ethos and outlook, increases the chance that this person will be successful in their job and will stay at the company for a good amount of time. Related: 3 Ways To Demonstrate Cultural Fit In An InterviewWhat should you expect in a final interview?
There’s no set structure for a final interview. Some are informal and take on the style of a ‘meet and chat’ with colleagues you may potentially be working with, followed by a tour of the company. On the other hand, some companies prefer to keep the final interview formal, lasting an hour or more and conducted by several people. You may even be asked to complete a skills test or to make a presentation to prove that you have the skills and knowledge to do the job. If you sell yourself well you may be offered the job straight away. So, be prepared for this and have your answer ready, whether it’s “I need time to consider it” or “Yes, I accept”. Related: 12 Buzzwords To Say During Your Next InterviewHow many people get selected for a final interview?
It’s hard to say for definite how many people get called back for a final interview. Typically though it’s usually about two or three. It may be more or less depending on the seniority of the job, the industry and the company hiring. On average around 250 people apply for one job. Not all will be suitable and around six to ten of those who applied will be invited for an initial interview. Out of these two or three may be called back for a final interview.What the interviewer is looking for
Ultimately the interviewer is looking for confirmation that you’re the right person for the job. They’ll be looking for signs that you really want to work for the company. To demonstrate this they may ask you (again) about what you know about the company or what the direction the business wants to take in the future? The interviewer will be wanting to see that you can fit seamlessly into the department/company and work with your colleagues without drama. They may use situational type questions to test this. They’ll also be watching your body language to see what signals you’re giving off. Are you fidgeting (could be a sign of nerves), are you making eye contact (shows you’re confident) or are you slouching (could give the impression that you’re so relaxed because you think the job is yours). Related: What Is A Situational Interview And How Can I Prepare For ItTips on how to impress in your final interview
Interview-fatigue is real. Being asked to answer difficult questions like ‘Why do you want to work with us?’ or ‘Why should we hire you instead of someone else?’ can be draining both emotionally and intellectually. Here are some tips to help you muster up the energy and enthusiasm for this one last round of questions:Look up the interviewer(s) before attending
The final interview maybe with the same person who interviewed you previously, someone new entirely or it could even be a panel interview. In all cases, do your research - look on the company website for their biography or search them up on LinkedIn. Find out what their role in the company is and how it relates to the job you’re going for. Try to find some common interests that you can bring up in the interview.Remind yourself of answers you gave previously
During an interview, you’ve probably noticed the interviewer busily scribbling away making notes on the things you’ve said. It’s highly likely that they’ll review back to some of these points in the final interview. So, try to remember as much as you can, the answers you gave. If you know your memory is bad, after the first interview make notes on what you said. You can then refer back to these before attending the final interview.Cover why you’re the best person for the role
Start by thanking them for inviting you back for a final interview and say how excited you are at the thought of potentially working with them. Talk about the type of environment you work best in and mention a couple of things that the company does, that you like. This could be a mentorship scheme or a flexible working arrangement. This will help to cement that you’re a fit for the company culture. Summarise your ‘wins’ in previous roles - it’s ok to brag a little, but don’t come across as big-headed. Nobody likes that.Talk about what you want to achieve with the company
When companies are hiring, yes they’re looking to fill immediate vacancies but they're also thinking of the future. They will favour people who demonstrate that they’re planning on building their career with the company. To show you’re planning on sticking around, be prepared to talk about what you want to achieve in the job, both in the short and long term. Be sure though, that these plans relate to the direction that the company is taking.Glassdoor Team
Our team of savvy experts are here to help you, whether you’re navigating your career or working to make your company culture shine. Glassdoor has the unique insights and guidance you need to experience your best worklife. Stick around to learn how to prepare for an interview, negotiate your salary, develop DEI programs, engage your employees, understand the state of the job market, and more. Check out our community to share and learn from professionals just like you too.
Tags:Interview AdviceInterview Preparation
