Messed up 2nd interview for job

[paddingtonbear1]

I applied for a job in IT development for a large company - from the description, I had all the tech skills required. I've not done any interviews for years, but got through the 1st one OK. Agent assured me that the 2nd one was fairly informal, you've basically got the job unless you mess up. Well I did mess up - they gave me another good grilling, and feedback was although technically I was fine I didn't sell myself enough! It reminded me of the Apprentice boardroom. I'm obviously no good at this sort of thing, any tips??

The best thing is to practise them, so take confidence from the fact that you did really well in the first one and try to think what went better in that one than the 2nd.

You really need to plan carefully: think ahead about all the possible questions that they might ask and be disciplined about preparing answers to them. Have them all on paper in a table, organised under themes like "problem-solving", "communication", "delivering results" and group together the questions/answers that demonstrate each one. And in each answer, include evidence from past jobs where you have shown that you can do things well.

This is one area in which there is absolutely no substitute for good preparation. Do you have friends/former colleagues who could help you prepare questions?

Good luck with the next time around.

Thanks jkklpu - I obviously wasn't prepared enough. The last interviews I had (many moons ago) were more informal, so I wasn't prepared for this. I did have answers to the themes you mention (they did ask questions along those lines), but they obviously weren't good enough. The job market these days seems vastly different to when I last looked!

Don't worry paddington I messed up my pgce interview for similar reasons. I just wasn't aware of what was required. I even wore biker boots and am really old enough to know better. I have raised my game, getting more experience and preparation and bought a suit.
Is galling when you are soooo close
but i figure that now you know what's required, the next opportunity that comes along you'll be even more hungry for iyswim
good luck and don't kick yourself! onwards and upwards - good luck!

Practice. Also I view an interview as an opportunity to work out if the company is one I want to work for. I find this 'interview the interviewers' technique great for calming my nerves. Also I think that a job is a two way commitment, so I want to work for a good employer.

It been very useful too, I had an interview once when I realised that I didn't want to work for a company where the interviewers didn't respect me (or anyone else) enough to read the CVs before the interview. I was right, a friend got a job at the same place and was treated abominably.

Any chance you can get some more specific feedback from the company? This also helps, but practice is the best way. My current job i got after my 3rd interview in a month and I could feel myself improving each time around.

I did try to ring the agent (he left an answerphone message with the feedback), but he's now avoiding me - nothing in it for him anymore, I suppose! Not sure I should contact the company direct.
I'm not 100% sure I would have taken the job anyway - was similar to what I'm doing now, but with less holidays (5 days less, wouldn't matter normally but have 1 dd and no family near to help), and a longer commute. I didn't realise all of this before the interview of course!