Sequential Interview 101
The job interview process typically consists of multiple rounds of interviews, about 2 to 3 sessions depending on the company’s policy and job role.
A sequential interview, also known as a serial interview, has several sessions of job interviews taking place one after another. Typically done using the one-on-one format, these interviews can take place in a day or over a period of time (even months).
Sequential interviews can be challenging due to the repetitive sessions and questions. Today, Job Majestic is here to present the best tips for you to ace sequential interviews for jobs in Malaysia.
How to Ace Sequential Interviews
Keep Up Your Spirits
As mentioned above, sequential interviews can be tough due to the repetitive sessions. You may have to keep repeating yourself, answering the same interview questions, if not those that are more challenging.
To succeed, you’ll need to maintain your enthusiasm for each interview. This includes greeting the interviewers with a smile, keeping your energy levels high, and your body language should be positive.
In every session along the way, do remember to gather and remember details about the interview questions as well as your interviewers. The information may be handy to increase your chances of success in subsequent interviews.
Stay Consistent
A big part of being successful in sequential interviews is the ability to stay consistent throughout the entire journey. Aside from maintaining your enthusiasm, you will need to keep your interview answers consistent.
As previous interviewer(s) will take notes and make remarks on your answers, the subsequent interviewer(s) have the ability to immediately identify if your answers are consistent, or whether you deviate using irrelevant points or even lying.
The safest option is to give the same detailed answers, and perhaps build on your points whenever necessary, but the overall gist has to be consistent. Do not deviate too far away, or you’ll have a tough time repeating your answers in the coming interviews.
Be Honest
As mentioned above, all interviewers will most likely compare their notes and check if your answers have any discrepancies in all the interview sessions.
Honesty is the best policy, so be sure to stay genuine and not makeup facts or statistics that could get you into trouble. The last thing you’d want is to be labelled as unprofessional and untrustworthy.
To better build rapport and establish your credibility, you could even mention the previous interviewers and your answers. For example: “In my previous interview with John Paul, the Head of Products, I elaborated on the end-to-end product management cycle and how I tweaked my team’s way of work to increase productivity.”
Customise Your Answers
Even though you will go through multiple interviews in a sequential interview, understand that each interviewer is different in terms of their role, scope, and interest in your application.
To increase your chances of success, it’s best to customise your answers slightly to cater for the different interests of the interviewers along the way.
For example, the Senior Analyst will most likely be interested in the numbers and achievements in your previous role, the Hiring Manager may be concerned whether you are the right fit for the team, while the Head of Department may be more interested in your thought process and your vision for the applied role.
Leave A Lasting Impression
Always stay vigilant and remember that you are being tested from the start till the end of each session, for all the interviews. The first impression starts right from the moment you enter the interview venue.
Most candidates are able to provide positive first impressions before and during the interviews. However, most will also ignore the importance of leaving a good impression after each interview session.
It’s important to note down the names of your interviewers and their email address so you can craft a customised thank-you note after the interview. Take the opportunity to express gratitude and reinforce your value proposition for the role.
When it comes to standing out from the crown, each action matters – thank us later!
Final Remarks
Sequential interviews may look mundane or easy, but they are hard to master. Most candidates are able to go through the entire hiring process, but only the best of the best candidates can ace sequential interviews.
With all the best tips above, you are well on your way to landing your dream job in Malaysia. If you need more career tips from us, be sure to check out our Job Majestic Blog and sign up with us today!
