How to End an Interview on a Strong Point

There are a lot of different ways you can wrap up an interview. Hopefully, the stars will align, and your interview will end with a job offer, either on the spot (it happens, but don’t expect this; it’s not common) or in the near future. Contrary to popular belief, the decision hasn’t already been entirely made by the time you reach the final moments of your interview. Parting impressions are almost just as important as first impressions. Here are four tips to end any interview on an impressive note and to cement you in the mind of the manager as “the right fit.”
 

Ask questions about the company.

When the interview is wrapping up, and the manager asks if you have any questions, don’t ever say no! You should have come to the interview prepared not only to answer questions but to ask your own questions. Remember, you are interviewing the manager and company, too; you’re going to be spending the majority of your waking hours here, so you want to show a high level of interest in the company itself. Demonstrate this by researching the company before the interview and preparing a small list of thoughtful questions; thoroughly review their website and history, check out any related news, and take a look at stock market info if applicable. Try to find things about the company that interest you and formulate your questions around those topics; if your interest is genuine, it will show.
 

Tell the manager that you’re interested.

At the end of any interview, tell the manager that you’re interested in the company and the position, that you feel you could quickly make a positive impact on the team, and that you are excited about the idea of working together.
After years of recruiting, it’s still amazing to me that many candidates don’t verbally say these things to a manager during an interview. For picky managers (and let’s be honest, picky is an understatement for most managers these days), not hearing those words from a potential hire can make all the difference. It may seem like a no-brainer, but by actually stating out loud that you’re interested, you quickly set yourself apart from other candidates who assume they’re demonstrating that same level of interest by simply showing up for the interview.
 

Ask about the next steps in the process.

To expand on verbally stating your interest level, it’s a good idea to ask questions about the next steps in the hiring process. This will further demonstrate your overall interest; the manager will see you as visualizing yourself moving forward and ultimately joining his or her team.
A plus is that you may be able to get an idea of the expected time-frame for the remainder of the hiring process. Don’t be surprised or discouraged if you get a vague answer here, though. The manager may not have that information and sometimes the waiting game is unavoidable.
 

Send a thank-you note.

A mandatory follow-up to any interview is a well-written thank-you note. It’s common courtesy and will again expand upon your demonstrated interest in the opportunity. This is another step that many people skip, so promptly sending a brief note after an interview will help make you stand out as a candidate.
Make sure that your note is succinct and contains no careless errors (use spell check/grammar check or consult a trusted colleague to review what you’ve written). You’ve already stated your high-interest level verbally during the interview, but it’s a good idea to wrap up your thank-you note by indicating how excited you are for the opportunity. When a manager has a choice between similarly skilled candidates, he or she will often select the one that has demonstrated greater enthusiasm.

What are some other ways you can demonstrate your interest in an opportunity and end an interview on a high note? Let us know!

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