What to Expect in the Final Job Interview

Expect to face a panel of interviewers.

If you've just landed a callback interview, give yourself a pat on the back. Now you're on a short-list of candidates, closer than ever to snagging that big career opportunity. Although you should congratulate yourself on a job well done, the second interview isn't a time to get cocky. You still need to do lots of preparation -- probably more than you did the first time -- to make sure that you seal the deal.

More of Everything

On the website Quintessential Careers, writer Katharine Hansen recommends that you expect more of everything in your second interview: more pressure, more detailed questions and more time to complete the interview process. Prepare for the intensity of your second interview by ramping up your efforts with more preparation. If you looked at the company website before your first interview, go a step further and scour the Internet for recent press releases and competitor information. Review the notes from your first interview and look for common themes. These subjects will probably come up again the second time. If the recruiter asked you about your industry knowledge for example, you'll want to brush up and do in-depth research so you can supply an even better answer than before.

More Interviewers

In keeping with the "more of everything" approach, you can also expect to see more people sitting across the table when you walk into the interview room. If you discussed the position with someone from HR last time, chances are this time you'll talk with higher-level managers from the hiring department and closely-related company areas. Ask your HR contact for the names of the people you will meet. Look them up on LinkedIn. Not only will knowing their professional backgrounds provide fodder for small talk, but you can also use the information you find to ask intelligent questions. For example: "Mrs. Smith, I noticed that your educational background is the same as mine -- a BS in computer science. How has your education helped you succeed in this area of the company?"

Behavioral Interview Questions

Interviewers will probably delve deeper into your personality by asking you scenario and storytelling questions to gauge how you behave in a professional situation. Behavioral questions usually ask you to "tell" or "describe." For example: "Tell me about a time when you showed leadership skills" or "Describe a time when you failed. How did you cope?" To be prepared with confident answers, come up with about eight stories from your professional past that showcase the skills your potential employer seeks. Sought-after abilities include teamwork skills, leadership skills, the ability to cope under pressure and communication, but you should review the original job description and your interview notes to understand what the company emphasizes. Think of some stories that are purely positive and others with challenges or outcomes requiring you to make the best of a bad situation.

Questions About Salary

Since you're winning the company's favor and you're getting closer to the job, your recruiters will want to get a feel for how much your expertise is going to cost. The job search site Monster suggests keeping numbers off the table until the organization makes an offer. After all, saying a number that's higher than one of your competitors could shove you out of the running. If the panel asks about your salary expectations, politely reply "I would prefer to have the salary conversation once you're prepared to extend an offer." If the recruiters persist, avoid saying a specific number by discussing reasonable ranges and industry averages.

References

• Monster; Step-by-Step Guide to Negotiating a Great Salary; Kim Lankford
• Forbes; Going on the Second Interview; Tara Weiss; December 2009
• Quintessential Careers; Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews; Katharine Hansen
• Quintessential Careers; Behavioral Job Interviewing Strategies for Job-Seekers; Katharine Hansen
• Quintessential Careers: Free Sample Behavioral Interview Questions