When you've made it through thefirst interview, then asecond interview, you might think you're done with theinterview processand you'll soon find out whether you'll be receiving a job offer.
That's not necessarily the case. You may have to endure a third interview and possibly more interviews after that. Those interviews may be with managers, prospective co-workers,hiring committees, or other company staff. On average, it can take three interviews to get a job offer.
Learn why employers conduct so many interviews and review advice on how to ace a third interview, the questions you'll be asked, and how to give the best response.
Why Would a Company Have so Many Interviews?
At many companies, initial interviews are used primarily to screen out underqualified candidates. The first interview, for instance, could be aphone screenby a recruiter, followed up by an in-person or video interview with a hiring manager or the manager for the position. Structuring interviews this way is a time saver for companies, allowing top-level employees to only meet with the most qualified candidates.
Note
If you're called in for a third interview, that's a great sign—it indicates that your previous conversations went well, and you are on a shortlist of job applicants.
A third interview is used to ensure the candidate is a good fit for the job. It can also be an opportunity for introductions to potential co-workers and high-level managers.
The Reason for a Lengthy Interview Process
The reason for the lengthy interviewing process is that companies want to be sure that they are hiring the right candidate because it's time-consuming and expensive to have to repeat thehiring processif the candidate doesn't work out in the job.
However, the good news is that if you are selected for a third interview or even a fourth or fifth, you are in serious contention for the job and will be competing against fewer applicants because the candidate pool shrinks as more applicants are rejected. When you get to a third or fourth-round interview, you can consider yourself a finalist for the job.
Preparing for a Third Interview
The best way to prepare for a third,fourth (or fifth) interview is to update the companyresearch you have done already. Check Google news (search by company name) for updates,andconsidersettingGoogleAlerts. Check the company website to see if the company has issued new press releases since your last interview. Read the company blog and social media pages, so you are armed with the most current company information.
Consider upping your preparation a notch because this is an opportunity to knock the other applicants out of contention andget a job offer.
If you haven't already done so, be sure to discover who you areconnected with at the company. If you've already reached out to your contacts, give them an update on the status of your application. Let your connections know where you arein the hiring processand ask them for any tips and advice they would give you for this interview.
How to Ace a Third Interview
Preparation is key for doing well at a third-round interview. Here are some tips.
Use Previous Interviews
Review your notes from previous interviews. If you don't have any, try to recall the discussions. Think about any questions repeated in both interviews—these are clues about what the company seeks in an applicant. Prepare stories that illustrate your strengths in areas that will be important to the position.
Research the Company
By this stage of the interview process, interviewers expect you to have a certain level of knowledge about how the company works, as well as its goals. If you haven't already, spend timeresearching the company. Review any recent press coverageand browse through the company's social media accounts.
Look up Your Interviewers
Look up anyone you'll be meeting with on LinkedIn. That way, you'll know interviewers' titles and responsibilities at the company, as well as their previous experience.
Note
If you have contacts at the company, use them to learn as much inside information as possible about who you'll be meeting with and the role you're being considered for.
Speak with Confidence
Remember, if you've made it this far in the interview process, the company is seriouslyinterested in you as a candidate. Display confidence in your previous work, as well as the work you'd do if you got the job when answering questions.
Questions to Expect in a Third Interview
The questions in your third interview are likely to be deeper and more involved than in previous interviews. Review theinterview questionsyou will be asked and also be sure that how you respond this time is consistent with how you responded in your other interviews.
Behavioral Interview Questions
Expectbehavioral interviewquestions. Come prepared with stories: How have you learned from achallenging experience? What was your biggest mistake at your last job, and what would you do differently? What's a project that you'd define as a big success?
Hypothetical Situations
Interviewers may alsopropose hypothetical situations (think: a frustrating client, a co-worker disagreement, or an unreasonable deadline) and ask for you to comment on how you would handle them.
Common Interview Questions
It's also possible that you'll get questions that are familiar from your initial interviews, such as "Tell me about yourself and your experience" and "How would your manager describe you?"
Note
If there is anything you wish you had mentioned when you interviewed before, be sure to work the information into your responses to these questions.
Ask Your Own Questions
If you haven't talked about salary and compensation, this could be the moment to do so. You mightalso inquire about the culture at the company and the nature of the work. Make sure to come prepared with some questions to ask.
How to Follow up After the Interview
You may have already said thank you once or twice before. Say it again. Use this as an opportunity to reinforce why you're the best candidate for the job, as well as to show your appreciation for being considered for the job.
Make sure you research how to saythank you for the interview, along with sample interview thank-you letters and email messages.
Note
Ask the people you interview with for their business cards, so you will have the information you need to send a thank-you note. If you interviewed with multiple interviewers, send them each a personalthank-you email messageor note.
