I'd like to suggest some suggestions for getting past the first interview, from the highly tactical to the truly out-of-the-box strategies (which I happen to prefer):
- Practice interviews with a coach, and get feedback about your interviewing skills. This will help you diagnose how you're presenting yourself and will benefit you no matter what job you ultimately land.
- Call the interviewers and ask for feedback. Although most companies won't give it, better to try than to simply be resigned to not knowing. You might also call and invite the interviewers for a lunch or coffee (on your dime). Tell them that you're having trouble breaking into the next position, and ask for their advice and suggestions.
- Interview with smaller companies where you may face less competition, so that you increase your likelihood of being called back for a second round of interviews.
- End your interviews in a very gutsy way by saying, "I'd love to have this job. And I'd like to know any objections you'd have to hiring me as your candidate, so I can address them before we wrap up." That way, you increase the chances of hearing about any problems in your interviewing.
- Don't even bother interviewing. No, I'm not being crazy. A whole other approach is to meet up with people at companies you'd like to work for and ask them about their strategic problems. You can find people who might hire someone like you, and ask a lot of great questions about what's happening, particuarly related to the kinds of problems you know how to solve. As you hear issues that you can tackle, offer a few suggestions. It's sort of like being a management consultant. Assuming you share some bright, useful ideas, you may just find yourself being offered a job without an interview. I've helped lots of my clients to use this approach. It's novel, and it's very often effective. It's more proactive on your part.
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