Catastrophic expectations such as: "I will never work again" or "I will end up sleeping under a bridge" or worse "I am worthless", are much more deadly than bad dreams, because they linger in your conscious mind. Pessimism would be bad enough if it only affected the job seeker's self esteem, but it has an even more far reaching consequence. People who feel worthless and desperate are very poor interviewees, because no matter how hard they try, they cannot disguise their negative feelings about themselves. If you need to banish some psychological demons, expose them to the light of rational thought and the next time you feel a catastrophic expectation about to take hold, confront it. Consider the true probability of your catastrophic expectation, develop an alternative and devise a plan to deal with it.
Follow-Up :
Now that the interview is over, it's time to relax and wait for a response, right? WRONG! You've got one more thing to do - send a thank-you letter promptly to your interviewer, expressing your enthusiasm, interest and appreciation. Do it as soon as possible while it is all still fresh in your mind. You may like to use this opportunity to refer to a particular point discussed, or to add anything you may have forgotten to mention or emphasise.
Second Interview :
Good news indeed. You are on the shortlist.Your second interview will probably be with a manager and some of your potential colleagues. It can be time-consuming, so be prepared for a long day. A typical agenda may include a tour of the facilities, interviews with department heads and, perhaps, lunch. It is rare to receive a verbal offer by the end of the day. If you do receive a verbal offer, express your interest and suggest a date when you will make your decision by. In any event, ask for written confirmation.
As for your first interview, follow-up with a thank-you letter.
Assuming the package offered is an all-or-nothing deal :
Very few things in life are as inflexible as one may believe, including remuneration packages. If your job offer is less than expected, you probably have room to negotiate. It is better to ask for what you want than to feel exploited.
Failing to use your leverage :
Many job seekers don't realise there are two parties in a job transaction. The employer is dependent upon finding the right candidate. The candidate is anxious to settle into the right job. Both people have an equal desire to develop the best possible match. Yet many job seekers relinquish their power when they are chosen as the number one for the job. Instead of using their status as leverage to ask for what they want, they often squander their advantage worrying about what the employer will think. When you are offered a job and there is still something you really want, make a counter offer before you say "yes", because once you start working your stock will take at least a year to rebuild.
