Made it to the third round? Be prepared for these third interview questions!

If you’ve made it to the third round of interviews, congratulations! That most likely means you're among the final candidates. You’re not only being evaluated on your suitability for the job, but how you’ll fit into the team and culture. Basically, the hiring manager wants to ensure you’re the perfect person for the job. To secure the role, you’ll need to be prepared for third interview questions.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• Tips to acing a third interview

• 8 typical questions asked in a third interview

• Questions to ask the hiring manager

Tips for acing the third interview

Progressing to a third interview is great, and you do stand a good chance of getting a job offer, but it isn't a guarantee. You still need to do everything you can to put your best foot forward.

Here’s six tips to ace that third interview:

1. Know who will be there. Don’t be afraid to call if you can’t find any pertinent information.

2. Assess company expectations. Get a handle on the expectations for the position. 

3. Memorize important information. This could include your current salary and the interview questions you want to ask.

4. Reflect on past feedback. Keep in mind responses and issues from previous interviews.

5. Expect behavioral or situational questions. Prepare to go into more depth with specific examples. 

6. Be prepared and organized. Make sure you have everything you  need. And rehearse before the interview!

8 Typical questions you’ll encounter in a third interview

During the earlier interview stages, questions are likely to focus on your background, experience, and education. Third interviews are a little different. At this point, the interviewer is more interested in your career goals and objectives, and how you'd fit into the company itself.

Here are third interview questions typically asked and sample responses:

1. What’s your ideal work environment?

Researching the organization and work culture is key to tackling this interview question. If your preferred work environment is the polar opposite of the company’s workplace culture, then your answer isn’t going to impress the interviewer. Here’s what you could say:

My ideal work environment is one that is positive, collaborative, and where I can apply my skills and qualities to contribute toward the achievement of common goals. From my research, I noticed that you encourage cross-functional collaboration on sales and marketing projects. In my current role, I’ve thrived when brainstorming and collaborating with different teams to optimize marketing campaigns.

2. What’s your 30-60-90-day plan?

How do you plan to settle into the role, company, and team in those early days? A good answer to this question shows that you’ll be a good fit for the team as well as being motivated and committed to the job and organization, as this answer does:

I’ve secured five year’s experience in account management, so I’m confident of my ability to perform well as your next account executive. In the first 30 days, I plan to get to know the team and my assigned clients as well as develop my knowledge of internal systems and processes. After 30 days, I’ll be laser-focused on my goals, in terms of both strengthening existing client relationships and attracting new business.

3. How would you describe your ideal boss?

The best way to sound authentic when answering third interview questions like this is by drawing on your personal experiences or highlighting some of your positive qualities. You could say:

My ideal leader is supportive, approachable, and balances independence and support in the workplace. For example, my previous manager trusted us to stay on task without close management, but conducted regular check-ins and was always there for support and guidance. I thrived under this leadership style and consistently hit my targets.

4. How do you stay organized?

Convincing the hiring manager that you’re able to use your time, energy and resources wisely and be productive and efficient can get you one step closer to a job offer. Here’s one way to say that:

I use a combination of tools and methods to stay organized. This includes using an online calendar and project management software to ensure that deadlines, goals, and IT projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specifications. 

5. How have you dealt with feedback that was critical in the past?

The interviewer is trying to find out how you respond to feedback. They want to hear that you don’t take constructive criticism personally and instead use it as a learning opportunity. You could respond with:

I’m always looking for opportunities to learn and grow, so I view feedback as a good thing. I listen to feedback, ask clarifying questions, then set SMART goals so I can successfully implement any feedback and measure my progress.

6. Have you ever had a co-worker who was not doing their share of the workload? How did you handle it?

Identifying an example of how you effectively handled this tricky situation with a co-worker  showcases your strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

Yes, I’ve worked in a lot of teams and this situation has arisen a few times. I believe open communication is key. In my last job, one of our team members was not contributing at the same level as the rest of us, but after a friendly conversation, I discovered they were having a difficult time outside of work. We rallied round and supported our co-worker and they were able to contribute effectively as a result.

7. Is it better to complete a project task to a good level and on time or perfectly but be late?

Certain third round interview questions (above) can feel a bit like a curveball or trick question, but the hiring manager is simply assessing how you manage priorities:

Delivering a project task to a good level and being on time is more important to me than being late. If a key project milestone isn’t met, then the whole project could derail and the client would lose their trust in us.

8. What resources would boost your performance? 

Employers are always on the lookout for self-aware candidates keen to progress in the workplace, so demonstrating your commitment to professional development is key. You could respond with:

I’m always looking to enhance my skill set, so I’d welcome any professional development opportunities. I’d really love to complete a financial analysis course, as this will allow me to contribute to controlling project costs effectively.

5 Questions to ask the hiring manager

During the third interview, the hiring manager shouldn’t be the only one asking questions. You should have some thoughtful, practical questions ready to go as you wrap up this final interview. 

Some great third round interview questions include:

• Do you have any hesitations about my experience or qualifications?

• How has this position evolved?

• What does it take to be successful in this position or company?

• What do you like best about working for this company?

• I heard in the news that….(conduct some research on recent company events/news)

Want to take your interviewing skills to the next level? Utilize Career.io’s Interview Prep services with live recordings, mock interviews, and insights from AI.

Key takeaways

1. The third interview is generally used to see how you would fit into the company culture and confirm the value you would bring.

2. Prepare for the third interview as thoroughly as you did for previous interviews, and determine what sets you apart. 

3. Make sure to prepare answers to behavioral questions to show how you’ve handled situations in the past.