If you have been invited back for a second job interview, the prospective employer has seen promise in you and wants to find out more details. Expect the second interview to get very specific about the job itself and your industry knowledge. Be prepared with copies of your references, copies of your resume and a confident handshake.

Be Prepared for More Direct Questions
In a second interview, you will likely be introduced to different people. The first interview is a screening process, and if the company has a human resources department, you probably spoke to people from that group during your previous visit. Depending on how involved the company executives get in the hiring process, on your second interview, you could be speaking with the company president. More than likely, you will talk with the person who would be your direct manager.

To prepare for this second interview, do some in-depth research on the position, the company and the industry. Find out as much as you can about the specific department you are interviewing for by using the Internet or talking to someone who works for the company, if you have that opportunity. Become familiar with what the company does, the software programs it uses and how it interacts with the industry at large. Your experience in dealing with these potential departmental issues will be discussed during your interview. Salary will come up as well, so be prepared to discuss that, and do not shy away from the topic. Research the median salaries in your region of the country for the position you are interviewing for. Be prepared to discuss why your experience warrants your being on the higher end of the salary scale.

Be Yourself
The company saw something it liked in you at the first interview, so you were invited back for a second interview. When you go in for the second interview, be confident and well prepared, with your research done and references on hand. Most importantly, be yourself. Whatever qualities the company saw the first time are qualities it wants to see again.

After the Interview
If the interviewer makes a job offer at the second interview, do not accept it right away. Immediately accepting a job offer indicates desperation and eliminates your ability to negotiate. Calmly thank him for the offer, then ask for 24 hours to consider it. When you return home, read the offer carefully and determine if it is acceptable. Do not be afraid to put together a counteroffer. If you have a counteroffer, call the company the next day and arrange a meeting to discuss it. Do not send out thank-you letters until the negotiations are complete. Regardless of whether you are able to come to an agreement about employment, be sure to send thank-you letters to everyone you spoke to during the second interview. You do not want to close the door on the possibility that the company may still have room for you.

If you do not receive an offer, then send out thank-you letters immediately to everyone you spoke to during the second interview. If the company is interested in making an offer, a representative will normally contact you within a week. If a week passes with no contact from the company, call to check on your status.