Handling Follow Up Behavioral Interviews
When tech companies ask for a second chance...or you really need one
Sometimes in life you get a mulligan, a break, a do-over. Follow up interviews are like that. I got one after I flubbed my first coding screen when applying to Facebook.
While that experience was certainly about my own performance, tech companies often conduct follow-up interviews when something went amiss the first time—and it's not always about you. The decision to bring you back reflects a complex interplay between company processes, interviewer ability, and candidate performance.
Understanding the Follow Up
Let's explore some reasons companies might call you back for a follow-up behavioral interview, categorized by whose "fault" it might be: the company's (🧑⚖️), yours (🤦🏽), or perhaps nobody's (🤷🏻).
🧑⚖️ Inexperienced interviewer: Most tech companies have rigorous review processes where written interview feedback is evaluated by experienced committees of engineering leaders. If they determine that an interview result doesn't align with their expectations—based on your background or the other interview results—and the interviewer lacks experience, the committee may request a follow-up with a more seasoned interviewer.
👩⚖️ Inadequate signal: Even when the interviewer is experienced, they might not have gathered enough information or the right type of information. Hiring committees frequently have specific questions they need answered like, "Does this Senior Engineer level candidate have experience leading others?" or "Conflict resolution wasn't addressed here; we need to understand the level of skill this candidate possesses in this area." These gaps in understanding prompt a follow-up to complete your packet.
🤦🏽 Poor story choice: The hiring committee may notice that while your resume features relevant projects that would showcase your qualifications, you chose to discuss older or less significant work. In these cases, they might offer another opportunity to tell your stories.
🤦🏽 Poor performance: Sometimes committees recognize that interviews can be stressful and are willing to give you another chance—a true mulligan—because they understand you might have been nervous or perhaps it was your first interview of the day and you hadn't fully warmed up. This especially happens when other aspects of your candidacy are strong.
🤷🏻 Logistical issues: Technical difficulties like network connectivity or scheduling issues like you or the interviewer being late compromise the quality of the interview. Companies often opt for a follow-up rather than making decisions based on an incomplete assessment.
Preparing for the Follow Up
Ideally the recruiter tells you why the follow up is being conducted and you tailor your responses appropriately.
Pro tip: If they don't tell you the reason, it's likely one of the 🤦🏽 reasons above—meaning something about your presentation needs adjustment.
If you think your stories are in line with the target level of the position, then I would tell the same ones. Focus on telling them with more emphasis on your own actions and connecting them to the company’s values. You did research the company’s values before going in right?
There's an important exception to this approach: if you have multiple stories that might address the same question effectively. In this scenario, I suggest offering both options to the interviewer: "In the previous interview, I responded to that question with a story about a large backend refactor. Would you prefer I elaborate on that example, which might be the best fit, or should I share another story about improving the performance of a large-scale production system?" You don’t have to guess what the interviewer wants to hear; just ask them.
If you're not sure your stories were in line with the target level, then be sure you're picking ones that represent your best work at the target scope. Get a mock interview from an experienced coach to help calibrate you.
Be prepared for targeted questions: if the interviewer has been tasked with acquiring specific signal, they may skip over context settting questions like, “Tell me about your favorite project,” and jump directly into a question like, “Tell me about a time when you had to persevere through a difficulty?” This is where having a well-curated set of stories aligned with behavioral interview axes and company values comes in handy, enabling you to easily choose and tell the story that fits the best.
Make the Most of It
A follow-up interview is never a bad sign—it's a sign that the company is still interested. Spend additional time preparing your responses and go in with confidence the second time.
If you know why you’re being called back, make the necessary adjustments.
If you don’t know, check out the other posts on my Substack to learn more about how best to craft your stories so you can really communicate those repeatable actions that showcase your skills and past scope.
Good luck!
💚 Austen