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Congratulations! You’ve been invited for a second interview
That means the employer liked you enough to invite you back. This is definitely a good sign.
Does a second interview mean I got the job? No, it’s another interview. But you’re going in with a WIN behind you.
A second interview might mean that there is one job and several good candidates
The second (or maybe even third) interview will be used to determine which of the good applicants (of which you are one) gets that job. Two of the major factors to be considered are:
- who has the best skills and
- who will fit in best with the organization
There are other possible factors as well:
- who will be available soonest
- whose salary requirements are most compatible with the annual pay rate being offered
- who has been most consistent across interviews
- who was most responsive to the invitation to interview
- who do the other team members just plain want to work with
So how do you put yourself in the best possible position to get the job?
Your Skills: You probably can’t improve your skills between interviews, but you can be sure you know how to describe them. Ask yourself: what will it take to do the job and what can I contribute?
Most help wanted ads include a full or partial job description which gives the major responsibilities of the position. Read this again before the second interview. When the interviewer(s) ask you what you can contribute (and they will ask this, in one way or another), speak to those major responsibilities.
Best fit: There is not much you can do about this and you shouldn’t worry about it. Just be yourself (a really professional version of yourself, but yourself) and this will take care of itself. If you’re not the best fit, it probably means that this job and organization aren’t the best fit for you, either. You still will have gotten valuable experience handling a second interview that will come in handy when you’re in a second interview for your perfect job.
Availability: If you are currently working, DO NOT offer to leave your job without giving appropriate notice. That usually means two weeks for an hourly position and four weeks for a salaried position. No reputable employer will want you to do this and they won’t want to hire someone who would leave a job without giving reasonable notice.
That said, you also don’t want to give an availability date that is too far in the future. If you want to give a month’s notice and then take a month’s vacation, be prepared to not be the chosen applicant.
Appropriate notice plus a week is usually acceptable.
Salary Requirements: You may or may not be asked about your salary expectations in a first or second interview. I’ve run into both situations in about equal measure.
If you are asked, and if there is a dollar amount that you really can’t go below, then just be honest about it. The employer can meet your requirement or they can’t.
If you are asked about your salary requirement and you don’t have a specific salary that you absolutely need, you can ask for the salary range. Unless you’re applying to be the CEO of a very prosperous company (and, if so, you’re not likely to be reading this article), then there is a salary range for the position. Ask what it is and then you can indicate if you can do the job within that range.
If salary doesn’t come up, it’s probably best not to bring it up during the second interview. The employer is trying to figure out the best candidate(s) and will discuss salary later.
Consistency across interviews: This means, in part, that you don’t want to be too comfortable. Even though the employer has already met and likes you, this is still an interview. You still need to dress professionally. Depending on the industry, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear a suit, but if you dressed business casual for the first interview, don’t show up in shorts for the second one. This may sound obvious, but I’ve seen it happen, more times than I care to think. You can find tips on dressing for an interview here.
The other thing I’ve seen between interviews is something akin to a personality change. Again, you don’t want to be too comfortable during a second interview. You still need to be polite and respectful. Even if you know where the interview office is, let whoever is escorting you there lead the way. Don’t show up early and “hang out.” Show the same level of interest and enthusiasm as you did at the initial interview. Don’t ask the receptionist for a date on the way out (yes, I’ve seen this. I’ve been doing this way too long).
Responsiveness to invitation to interview: Check your email and your voicemail. I have seen so many people miss out on a job opportunity because they don’t do these very basic things. For an in-depth look, read Why Can’t I Get a Job Interview.
Who do the team members want to work with: Same as with Best Fit. You can’t do anything about this except just be your best professional self.
A second interview might also mean that there are multiple similar jobs available
This happens often:
A company needs several people in a certain category (direct service workers, drivers, servers, nurses… there are lots of possibilities). There is usually an initial screening interview, often by phone. An employer may screen as may as 20 candidates to fill three positions. Then the best 8 or 10 or so will be invited for a second interview. This might be in person or it might be virtual.
The reason so many people are screened and invited back is because half of them won’t show up. If you’re a sincere job seeker you may find that hard to believe, but it happens all the time.
So that’s good news for you! If you want that job, and have been invited for a second interview, you have an excellent chance. Show up and do all the things listed at the top of this article (know how to talk about your skills, behave consistently, give a reasonable start date) and this could be your job.
So, does a second interview mean I got the job? It’s not a done deal yet, but you’re on your way!
Once you are offered the job, please read Showing Good Judgment Even After the Interview.
