So you’ve made it to the end of the interview, you did it! But what now?
‘First impressions count’ is that old saying, but when it comes to job interviews, candidates also want to make an impression that lasts. You need to end the interview on a high note!
You want your interviewer to have no doubts whatsoever that you are the best person for the job, not just in terms of skills but also personality and passion.
That’s where we come in. We are providing you with some crucial tips on the best way to end an interview.
Don’t panic!
Nine times out of ten, the most common time for people to crumble under pressure is at the end of the interview. It’s almost as if people get that taste of freedom and rush over the finish line.
This, more often than not leads to a jumbled display of grateful sentiments, none of which are particularly exciting or impressive. You’re definitely not out of the woods yet. You still have time to impress your interviewer.
Keep that in mind, with everything you say and do. But most importantly, don’t panic!
Ask Questions
“Have you got any questions for us?”
To the less experienced interviewee, this may be a simple question, to simply be polite. But for the savvy interviewee, this is their final chance to absolutely blow the interviewer away with some great questions, such as:
- I saw that (company name) is a competitor of yours, how do you out-sell them?
- How do you, as a business, nurture a great team environment?
- What do you like about working for this company?
- What are the company’s growth plans for this year?
- How many of your team achieve their targets?
Asking these kind of questions often show that you have done your research, that you’ve been listening throughout the interview and that you have a genuine interest in both the role and the company.
Muttering a ‘no thanks, that’s everything’ just won’t leave the lasting impression that you want.
Confront any issues
After the question aspect of the interview, it’s time for a very good ‘closer’.
An example of this would be “do you have concerns about my ability to do the role?”
This one thing, could in itself seal that final deal for you. It’s a pretty controversial question, we know, why would you want the interviewer to think about your bad points, especially if you’re doing well?
Are you 100% sure that there is no niggles in the interviewers mind? This is your last chance to make sure. There’s no going back from here.
Best case scenario, they’ll reply ‘no, we think you’re perfect’, at which point, you can relax a little bit. But if they do mention any concerns, you need to be prepared to squash these. Confront each one head on, focus on your ability and passion for learning new skills quickly.
Sell yourself and use this opportunity to show why they really, really should hire you.
Make some subtle reminders
Throughout the closing section of the interview, use every opportunity to your advantage. Bring the conversation back to your strong points. You want to remind them about what you’ve already mentioned throughout the process – so they’ll go away thinking about the good points.
Your interviewer will be keeping an eye out for tell-tale signs that you are committed to and interested in the role, (and that the interview hasn’t put you off).
Be loud and proud!
“The role sounds perfect for me!” “It all sounds really exciting!”
It goes without saying, avoid sounding desperate, just be naturally passionate.
Ending on the right note
One way to look keen, without being too obvious, is to ask where the process goes from there. Something along the lines of “So when can I expect to hear a decision?” or “How quickly are you hoping to get someone started?” are both great ways of seeming genuinely interested. Plus, it is vital information for you!
Asking your interviewer if they would like any more information is not only a polite thing to do, but it gives you a chance to showcase some of your skills. Sometimes, an interviewer would ask about your notice period, or your educational certificates. Offering this, shows you’ve got nothing to hide, and makes you seem more honest and committed.
Always end the conversation on a polite and positive note. A firm handshake or thanking them for their time should do the trick! Also, dropping them an email thanking them for their time again is not only polite but is a very nice little reminder of your interview.
Closing the interview
The last few minutes of your interview is super-important, don’t ever forget that! Interviewers will expect you to be ready with your own, interesting questions, and also that you’re able to hold down a conversation, without shooting out of the door too quickly.
The most important things to remember are:
- Hold it together
- Be polite
- Keep going back to your skills
- Show how interested you are in the position
This will work brilliantly to round up the interview, and leave the interviewer with one lasting thought: you are the right person for the job.
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