How do you prepare for a second or third round of interviews with different stakeholders?

Find out who will be participating in the upcoming interviews and learn about their roles, responsibilities, and backgrounds. Understanding their positions within the company can help you tailor your responses to resonate with each stakeholder.

A great way to open a dialog is to aks about something you read on the website media page. If the company just won a big contract, talk about how impressive that is and ask questions about how you could add value to that. Or, you see they have an amazing philanthropy program for employees, talk about why that excites you and ask about projects. It doesn't all have to be business.

Find out who will be participating in the upcoming interviews and learn about their roles, responsibilities, and backgrounds. Understanding their positions within the company can help you tailor your responses to resonate with each stakeholder.

The key word here is "prepare". The night before the interview, write down five questions you may want to ask. Bring the paper with you to the interview. You may choose to ask all of them, only a few, or even entirely different questions, but having them written down and with you will save you from the dreaded "I don't know what to ask." As a bonus point, here's one of my favorite questions to ask: "What are the biggest challenges I'll be helping the team solve in the next year?"

NEVER speak negatively about a former employer EVER! Don't ask about how they would handle XYZ because that is why you quit. You CAN ask about their DEI policies or do they have opportunities to give back to the community. No matter what, prepare a couple questions before.

I like to suggest asking why the person interviewing likes working for the company. I realize that it's a bold move, but I think it can provide great insight as well as give them a chance to brag about their company.

This is a hidden opportunity to stand out and showcase yourself. Of course, thank them for meeting with you (and never say “thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me”, because that implies you feel you aren’t worthy of their time). Use the thank you note to write something specific, from the interview that you both connected on. It is a final way to make a lasting good impression. If there was something you forgot to mention during the interview, this is the time for a succinct story to make that point. Close with, “I am very interested in this position and looking forward to next steps. Please let me know if there is anything I can provide to help with the decision making process. Thank you.”

After each interview, send a thank-you email to each stakeholder, expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to speak with them and reiterate your enthusiasm for the position.

Another point in your thank you can be to ask a question about something you heard them say. Example: I was really interested when you spoke about the learning opportunities. I am a lifelong learner and expanding my knowledge and skill set is always important to me. I look forward to learning more about it during onboarding. (This shows confidence without.) Then, "Can you tell me what the process is from here?"

One of the most useful questions in negotiating anything is, "Is this the best you can offer?" Practice saying it over and over! When used correctly, it encourages them to improve the offer made, but recognizes that they have limits also. It allows you to continue negotiating, even on an offer with which you're happy, without rejecting where it's at right now. And if it is the best they're willing to offer, you're still free to accept or reject it.

If you've made it to a second or third round, you're clearly qualified for the role and the team wants to know more. Shift your focus away from the qualifications and start leaning in on what you bring to the table, ideas, and ways to move the business or product along. Treat these later rounds more conversationally and don't be afraid to ask questions throughout the interview so it's an open dialogue discussion and less question/answer.

The second or third round of interviews is an opportunity for the company to dive deeper into your fit for the role, and it's also a chance for you to assess if the company is the right fit for you. Approach the interviews with a positive attitude, be authentic, and showcase your skills and passion for the position.

The receptionist is a gatekeeper and can be your best friend. Make sure you treat this person the same way you treat the CEO. Smile, ask who is interviewing (if you don't already know), and ask for any words of wisdom. After the interview, thank the receptionist and wish them a good day. Might sound weird but it shows that you are a courteous person.

I think it’s best to use this time in a proactive, contributing way, using assumptive language, as if you’re already part of the team. Ask Qs like: What behaviors do your most successful employees have? In what ways can I best contribute to the growth of the company? What do the first 30 days look like for me? When collaborating, do we work as a team, or independently? And so on. My two cents. ???? (or apparently two nickels lol)