Final Round Interview Preparation Guide

If you have been invited to a final interview, you are a top candidate and should prepare carefully. You need to do some "homework" about the company, prepare and practice what you'll say and plan to sell yourself even more than you have done in previous interviews.
☛ Know Who Will Interview You
☛ Prepare Solutions to Problems
☛ Plan the Right Questions
☛ Prepare to Resist Talking About Salary
☛ Plan to Ask for the Job

The final interviews of top candidates are often with people other than the person who conducted initial interviews. If you have not been told who will do your final interview, ask who will be interviewing you. If it is someone you have not met yet, thoroughly research the title and position in the company and look for information that you may be able to use to build rapport with and impress your interviewer.

Prepare a few questions for the final interview that are designed to reveal any questions or concerns the employer may have so you can address them. For example, ask questions like "Have I said or demonstrated anything today that leaves you with questions about my suitability for the job?" or "At this point, what would keep you from offering me the job?" The response to these kinds of questions will give you insight into what to focus on in your closing statement.

When preparing for a final interview, think about solutions to problems you learned about in earlier interviews. Focus on what you can do for the company with concrete examples of what you have done recently in similar situations. For example, if you learned that the sales team has been under performing and sales are down, prepare some possible solutions to discuss and mention how you've increased sales in other positions.

You may feel that because you have been invited to final round interviews, you must discuss salary if the employer brings it up. Do not be fooled into revealing previous salaries, what your salary range is, what your bottom line salary is or any salary information. Salary discussion and negotiation should be done only after you have received a written job offer. If asked what your salary range is, respond with some variation of "I'm more interested in the best fit in a job than salary" or "I'm open to a fair market salary for my experience and qualifications."

Here is how to seal the deal:
☛ Do not Be Afraid to Brag a Little
☛ Know When to Address Your Weak Points
☛ Do not Be Afraid to Ask Questions
☛ Know When to Bring the Focus Back to You
☛ Do not Be Afraid to Laugh
☛ Know When to Be Professional

While many final round interviews will be about your fit with the company or team, they usually still have some technical component to (again) verify your skills. Feel free to show off a bit. Studies have shown that when it comes to interviewing, candidates who show a bit of narcissism actually end up being rated more favorably than more modest interviewees, so do not forget to brag a little.

The final round interview is typically held in the office you will actually be working in should you be offered the position. It is a way to give you a sense of what you are signing up for, so it is a good idea to show interest in this whole process. That does not necessarily mean vigorous nodding when the hiring manager points out the kitchen or the conference room. A better way to show interest and enthusiasm is to ask thoughtful questions.

You do not want to seem arrogant. It is a fine line to walk, but one way to do it is to show that you are very self-aware about your weaknesses. The other finalists might have you beat in some areas, so you want to be able to show you are conscious of that and working on it.

Ask for the job at the end of every interview, and especially in final interviews. Practice asking for the job in an enthusiastic and persuasive way, restating what you have learned about what the company needs and how you can meet those needs once hired.