This seems ridiculous to even mention as an interview tip, doesn't it? But it's the first impression you will make - even before the interview gets started - so this is a big one! You must prepare accordingly. Do a trial run to the company's location. Pick the route you will take. If you don't have a way to get to the interview it's important to make arrangements ahead of time. Don't wait until the last minute to find out about public transportation, a family member's availability, or whatever means you will need to get there on time.
Yes, that could be a negative for you personally, but would an employer necessarily see it that way? Is working hard and caring a weakness or a strength?
In case you've never heard of Self Fulfilling Prophecy, it means that you get what you expect. In the case of staff selection, let's say someone sends a "sensational" written application. You are really impressed. You arrange a face to face interview. Because you're so well disposed towards the applicant you interpret everything they say in a positive light. You look for reasons to see good in their answers. Your positive expectation causes you to hear what you want to hear and unwittingly ignore the negatives. When the face to face interview occurs early in the process the likelihood of the Self Fulfilling Prophecy increases markedly.
You need a job interview coach or trainer just like athletes preparing for the big game would have. In the absence of such a trainer, your job in preparing for your job interview is to come up with a way to make yourself stand out and appear confident and qualified. There is more than just giving the right answers to interview questions. For example, your interviewers will also be looking at your interpersonal skills or how well you carry yourself and interact with others. For example, do you make good eye contact or stare at the table, do you come across as friendly, do you offer a firm handshake, do you smile, do you have enthusiasm and energy in your voice when you speak?
There's only one definite way to measure whether your selection process has worked well. The only way is successful on job performance. It really doesn't matter how sophisticated your selection process is. If the chosen candidate can't do the job well, the process has failed.
In any case, you should plan to be interviewed by a different person than before and expect the second interview questions to be tailored quite a bit more to your specific skills and the requirements of the position for which you are applying.
Do turn a negative situation (not getting the job) into a positive (getting a referral). Add the interviewers to your job search network. Nurture this budding relationship so that you can ask them to refer you to other contacts. Don't, in other words, ever burn any of the bridges you build in your job search. Always think of ways to use them - and to reciprocate. Doing so, can benefit you now and in interview tips the future - for any other job search needs as well as growing your career.
The good news is that you impressed them enough to get called back! But, it also means you will have to get prepared for a new set of interview questions. You can get helpful tips for your second interview by going here to Second Interview Questions.