Candidates who make it to the final interview research summary: As an eager job seeker, it can often feel like it takes ages to land a job interview, especially for your dream job. At least, if you’ve had that feeling before, you’re not alone. More and more job seekers are wondering when they’ll get the chance to sit down with an employer.
So, if you’re a current job seeker wanting to know how many candidates actually make it to that final interview, we’ve got you covered. We’ve investigated the average number of candidates who make it, and according to our research:
Key Takeaways:
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Only three candidates make it to the final interview on average (anywhere between 2 and 10, depending on the job)
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That’s only 2.5% of the average 118 candidates who have applied for a job in 2023.
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40% of employers say candidates should expect at least two interviews.
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51% of job seekers receive a job offer after having three job interviews.
Average number of candidates per interview
One interview is becoming less and less common in the job market. Today, only 1% of recruiters believe they can get away with one interview to get a hire. Similarly, 40% of employers say candidates should expect at least two interviews, and 15% say five or more interviews have become the norm.
As the interview process goes on, fewer and fewer candidates are filtered through. In fact, only 2.5% of all candidates will make it to the final interview.
To see this process in action, here is a chart of the average number of candidates per interview. Please note that this chart uses the average number of applicants (118) to approximate these numbers:
Average number of candidates per interview
| Interview number | Average number of candidates | Share of total candidates |
|---|---|---|
| First interview | 10-24 | 8.5%-20.0% |
| Second interview | 3-6 | 2.5%-5.0% |
| Final interview | 2-4 | 1.7%-3.4% |
For the initial shortlist of candidates chosen for the interview, the average number selected is around one-fifth of the total number of applicants. On average, however, around ten people are selected.
After this initial process, between three and six candidates are chosen to return for a second in-person interview. This is between 2% and 5% of the total applicant pool, which means that if you’ve already made it to the second interview, your chances of landing the job are much higher.
Finally, once candidates reach the final interview (which could take as many as five interviews or more), only two to four candidates remain.
How many interviews does it take to land a job?
The number of interviews it takes to land a job will largely depend on the experience and education needed for the position.
For example:
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Entry-level jobs. These positions are the most likely to hire you after one interview. These jobs are often easy to train for, and may hire candidates based on soft skills and previous potential, rather than scrutinize with rigorous testing.
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Mid-level jobs. These jobs may require between one to three interviews, with two being common. The first interview will narrow down a shortlist of candidates, while the second interview will likely be longer, ask more questions, and be more detailed.
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Senior-level jobs. Three or more interviews are standard in these jobs, as employers want to ensure they’re hiring a qualified candidate. Often, employers will perform interviews for just two candidates in the final stages so they can compare and contrast their options.
Ultimately, it’s important to be patient and prepared for any number of interviews during the job hunting process.
Final interview FAQ
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Why do interviewers conduct multiple interviews?
Interviewers conduct multiple interviews because they have multiple stakeholders to please and a lot of competition to narrow down. In more detail, here are some of the top reasons why interviewers do multiple interviews explained:
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Gather opinions. Most companies will have multiple important team members with valuable insight into who would make the best candidate. For this reason, companies may choose to communicate with or have you interviewed by various company members.
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Skill assessment. A hiring manager will often use multiple interviews to assess your soft and hard skills over time. For example, seeing if you might open up more in later interviews.
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Getting to know you. Trust in a candidate and reassurance that they’ll blend well with a company’s culture often takes time. Therefore, companies may perform multiple interviews to get to know you better and see if you’ll be a good fit.
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Competition. It’s not always easy to choose the best candidate out of two or three quality options. Employers might need to perform multiple interviews to see which of their top picks stands out as the best.
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What type of job interview is the final interview?
The final job interview will likely be an in-person interview. Once you’ve reached the last interview, you’ve probably already sold your technical capabilities and experience. So, it’s typically a good idea to sell your personality and leave as memorable of an impact as possible.
Find ways to impress your potential employer through charisma, knowledge of the company, and the qualities that make you truly unique.
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How likely are you to get the job if you make it to the final interview?
You have a 25% to 50% of getting a job after the final interview. The typical final interview involves two to four candidates jockeying for the position. With that in mind, you shouldn’t beat yourself up too much if you don’t get the position.
This isn’t to say that your odds aren’t good. Between the first interview and the last, your chances of getting the job increase by up to 40x.
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How do I pass the final interview?
You have a higher chance of passing the final interview if you study and do your research. For instance, here are our top tips for how you can pass that final interview:
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Research. Understand the company inside out. Look into their values, mission, and recent projects. This will allow you to more accurately represent yourself as the right candidate.
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Review. Analyze your previous interviews and think about what you did right, and what you did wrong. Use the lessons you learned from the experiences you’ve already had to prepare for the final interview.
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Ask thoughtful questions. Prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer. This will show your interest and help you assess if the company is a good fit. However, you should avoid asking questions that can be easily answered by a quick Google search.
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Charismatic authenticity. Confidence is key, but also remember to be yourself. Authenticity is appreciated in interviews. For instance, if you don’t know the answer to a question, you should tell the truth and express your eagerness to learn.
Overall, keep in mind that the final interview isn’t just about evaluating you. It’s also a chance to evaluate if this is the right place for you.
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Conclusion
As a job seeker, you can expect to undergo anywhere from one interview, to over five before you get to the final interview. Given that the average job receives 118 applicants in 2023, the odds that you’ll get to the final interview might be slim.
On average, only 2.5% of all candidates make it to the final interview, or two to four people. By this point, you have between a 25% and 50% chance of landing a job.
However, it’s important to note that there are steps you can take as a job seeker to improve your odds. By reviewing your application materials, networking, and improving your skills, you can make yourself more competitive in the job market.
References
Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
