Yahoo has thoughts on second interview. Some worth reading:
From an employer's perspective, the second interview is a chance to closely evaluate a candidate's abilities and interpersonal skills. Your prospective employer wants to see that you can do the job and work well with colleagues.
Be aware that many employers bring in several candidates on the same day to streamline the second interview process. Your challenge is to distinguish yourself from the other candidates.
To show you're a good fit with the company, focus on explaining how your abilities and experiences would enable you to do the job. Be specific. Offer concrete examples that highlight your competence and compatibility.
Here's my advice/thoughts on second interviews:
1. If a company brings you in for a second interview, they like you and think you can do the job. This is ESPECIALLY true if the trip is out-of-town and they paid your transportation/food/lodging bills. Companies don't spend money for fun.
2. Find out how many other people got invited back for second interviews before you go back. This gives you an idea of how close you are to getting the job (if it's two people, you're close -- if it's ten, not so much.)
3. Ask your contact at the company (usually the person inviting you back for the second interview) what feedback they received from the first round of interviews. Find out both what people liked and concerns they may have had about you.
4. On the trip, hit on your accomplishments hard. Hit on them over and over again. Give them tons of examples of how you delivered over-the-top results (and how you'd like to do the same for them.) Sell, sell, sell. Also address the concern issues -- giving them plenty of examples that show how they shouldn't be concerns at all.
5. Ask lots of questions to find out what the company is really like. You need to be sure you want to work here, after all.
6. Maintain all the other interviewing to-dos: dress appropriately, be flexible and cheerful, etc. Never, ever let your guard down. EVERYTHING you say and do is part of your interview process and can and will be used against you by a hiring committee/manager.
7. Follow up with a thank you note after the interview. If the race comes down to you and one other person, something simple like this could be the difference you need to get the offer.
For more tips on interviewing, see these posts:
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