Many candidates will come across great in the interview, but then fail to close it properly. This is like baking a terrific cake and forgetting to put on the icing, says Tom Hogan, principal of Level 1 Resources, a company that provides accounting and finance talent to companies throughout Connecticut, Westchester County and the New York City area.
“The closing of your interview is the most memorable part not only because it comes at the end of your time together, but because you are able to interject your own personality, comments and questions into the conversation with the interviewer,” says Hogan.
Ask Questions
You should be well prepared for the interview with questions of your own to show that you're considering their company as much as they are considering you. You should ask questions that show you've paid attention to information in the interview and done research on your own before coming into speak to the interviewer. If the interviewer doesn't ask for your questions, be sure to ask, "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions before we finish?" For a list of great questions, view Hogan’s LinkedIN profile and download the file 25 Questions to Ask During an Interview in the job search folder.
Reinforce Your Attributes
When the interviewer makes a statement similar to, "If you have nothing else, that will be all," offer a respectful closing comment reiterating your strengths and how they tie into the critical skills the company is seeking. Include four or five reasons why you should have the job and show your knowledge of the company in the process.
"This is an exciting position and I know that my experience with teamwork will help me mesh well with the existing sales team, my industry knowledge will be useful in developing new leads and my time spend building industry contracts will help to solidify my client list almost immediately. The work I've done with your computer system will give me an advantage in that area as well."
Alleviate Concerns
If you suspect the interviewers have any concerns about you as the right applicant, your next statements should alleviate those concerns. It is wise to give the interviewer a chance to state concerns so that you can address them, "I believe I'm the right candidate for this position. Do you see any issues that might make you think otherwise?"
Your enthusiasm for the position and company should be shining through during the interview process, but be sure to include a few direct positive remarks about the company and position as well.
This is perhaps the most overlooked yet most important part of the closing. If you are truly interested in the job, ask for it. Nothing says, “I’m interested in this opportunity” like asking for it. Something such as, “Based on our conversation, I believe my professional experience, educational background and proven track record of success would make me an ideal candidate for this position. I want you to know that I would welcome an opportunity to join your team.” This leaves no doubt you want the job. Remember to be enthusiastic but not aggressive.
Determine the Next Step
Be sure you ask for the next step in the hiring process. This will show you are an organized and professional candidate. If possible, establish a time frame for the hiring decision as this will give you critical information about how and when to follow up.
Thank the Interviewer
Finally, thank your interviewer graciously and stand to shake his or her hand. Make eye contact during the handshake and walk out of the room knowing you've done well.
Always send a thank you note to everyone you've met. There may be some debate as to whether you should email or send it the old fashioned way, but there is no debate on the importance of sending one. Remember to not only thank the interviewer but also reaffirm your interest in the company and position.
More about Tom Hogan:
Tom Hogan, Principal of Level 1 Resources can be reached 914.478.4459 ext 111 or tomhogan@level1resources.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/level1resources
Are you a professional looking to update or improve your resume? To receive a quote on updating your resume, contact Matt Krumrie at mattkrum@yahoo.com
Comments
Tom Hogan's advice would be a lot more convincing if he correc ted the spelling of "independent" on his profile.
Roy,
Thanks for the comments, I will pass that along to Tom. While we are on the topics of corrections, corrected is one word, not correc ted, like you have above. Thanks for reading!
I should say like you have "below"
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