After your first interview with a prospective employer, you receive a phone call asking to schedule a second interview. Great! Then, your feelings of elation and success begin to ebb and are quickly replaced by feelings of anxiety, nervousness and panic – now what?
First, relax. Enjoy the moment because being asked back for a second interview means the company is seriously interested in hiring you. You should feel energized that you’re now a contender for the position. All that’s left to do is prepare …

• Know the Plan.
  Second interviews can mean a variety of things depending on the company. Some organizations’ second interviews can last up to a full day and include meetings with prospective team members, key management personnel, and others. Or, it could be a panel interview where you’ll meet with lots of folks at one time. Be sure to ask about the specific agenda, including names and titles of those people with whom you’ll be meeting so you won’t be caught off guard.
• Second Interviews Equals Double the Preparation.
  Even though you are more likely to secure the job now that you have a second interview, it will require twice the preparation you put in for round one. You can expect second interview questions to be tougher and more direct in nature. Identify areas of strengths, examples, accomplishments that you didn’t mention in your first interview and that could serve as fresh and new information for the interviewers. Equally as important is to research the company in great depth by reviewing their website, recent press releases, management bios, etc. Then, be sure to look for opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge of the company during the interview.
• Don’t Forget to Interview Them.
  Second interviews signal a time when the relationship between you and your prospective employer is getting more serious. This means you need to be sure the position, the company, the boss are all a good fit for you. Ask to see a copy of the full and official job description if you don’t have it already. You’ll want to review this before the second interview so that you can ask any questions or get clarification if needed. Ask the interviewer questions about the company culture, how this job fits into the overall objectives and structure of the organization and any other questions you may have.
• Don’t Jump the Gun.
  If all goes well, there is a chance you’ll be offered a job on the spot. Even if the job is perfect for you, don’t immediately say yes. Regardless of how perfect everything seems while you’re in the thick of it, you’ll want to take some time to think about it objectively at home. Just tell them you’d like a day or two to think about the offer. Also, be prepared to negotiate salary as this subject may surface during your second interview.
• Don’t Forget to Say Thank You.
  As always, make sure you follow-up with all the people with whom you interviewed by sending a quick thank you note or letter. Make sure you express your continued interest in the company and the job specifically.

Landing a second interview, regardless of whether it materializes into a job offer or not, should at the very least inject you with a shot of confidence. You should feel great about achieving a second interview and know that you are that much closer to securing your dream job.