Getting a second interview is typically your goal when you attend a first interview.

Unless the job you're applying for has a one-interview process to be followed by a job offer to the successful candidate, you will most likely be trying to get invited back for a second interview.

For more senior positions you might even come back for a third and subsequent interviews. Sometimes companies have processes in place that result in multiple interviews for potential employees.

What actually happens in the second interview of course largely depends on what happened in the first interview.

Often, the first interview is a Human Resources (HR) interview. This is when you get interviewed by a member of HR to determine whether or not you are someone who would fit with their company.

The HR interview might focus on what some job searchers often sarcastically refer to as "touchy-feely" questions but don't treat this interview as a joke.

You might be surprised at the power that HR wield in some companies. I've seen some HR staff turn down job candidates even when the hiring manager liked them.

Also, don't expect to be able to go into the HR interview and "wing it." In other words, make sure you prepare for this interview as you would any other interview.

If your first interview was with the hiring manager, the second interview might be a more in depth discussion with the same hiring manager and/or you might meet up with one of their peers (ie. another manager) or perhaps you'll meet up with people you'd be working with should you get the job.

In this case, the questions you face tend to be more in depth than before. At this point, the company has shown interest in you so they will want to gain more information about you and your suitability for the job.

You also need to gain more knowledge about the company and the people you'd be working with.

Some companies might hold a panel second interview where you get interviewed by several people at once. I've experienced this several times myself.

When you're leaving the first interview try to get a sense as to what the next step in the process is.

If you find out that you have been invited to a second interview try to find out who you'll be meeting with and what each person does. This will help you get a better sense of what the second interview will entail and what you will need to prepare for.