So you’re crushing the interview. You’re vibing with the interviewer. You’re confident things are going well and are positive you want this role. Now what? How do you end it? Do you just say “Thank You,” shake their hand, and leave the room? NO! How do they know you want the job?!
Think about it, who are they going to remember: the person who says thanks them and leaves, or the person who says thanks, explains briefly that they are really interested in the role and think they would be a great fit, and then leaves? Of course they will remember the latter.
So remember the ABCs of the end of the interview – Always Be Closing.
Now when you go about this, the first thing to remember is, it’s unlikely the person you are interviewing with has the unilateral ability to hire you on the spot. And, even if they do, they aren’t going to do that. So don’t be weird and directly ask them “Can I have the job?” That’s super awkward and strangely unprofessional.
However, what you do want to do is convey:
- You want the job
- You’re the right person for the job
- You’re interested in moving forward in the process
The best way to start off this part of the conversation is to thank the interviewer for their time. Obviously, they have to be there to interview you. But still, it’s a nice way to start things off. Mention you know how they are really busy and you appreciate them spending time with you to discuss the role.
Now, you need to tell them, that after all this conversation, you’re super interested in the role. The interviewer isn’t in your head. They don’t know how you’re feeling about things. So you have to tell them. A good way to do this is to say that after having an opportunity to learn more about the role and the company, you’re very interested in the job and could see yourself excelling in the role.
Next, quickly transition into why you are the right person for the job. Think back to some of the attributes or traits you demonstrated earlier in the interview when telling your success and failure stores. Remember how the last aspect of the success and failure stories is to describe what traits or attributes the story demonstrates? Now is when you resurface those traits and describe why those traits are critical for success in this particular job and how you have demonstrated those traits as being your strongest attributes.
Lastly, let them know directly you are interested in moving forward in the process. Like I mentioned above, don’t say “Can I have the job?” That might be how it works in movies or TV, but that’s not how it works in real life. Most of the time, at an on-site interview, you interview with multiple people throughout the day. At the end of the day, they all get together and discuss all the candidates they interview and decide who “won” or who is going to get an offer. So nobody you are interviewing with has the authority or ability to just shake your hand and say, “Yes, you got it!” And even if they did, they wouldn’t do it in that moment.
What you do want to convey is that the more you’ve learned the more interested you’ve become and you’re looking forward to moving forward in the process and ultimately joining the “team.” You’re looking for a soft way to demonstrate you want the job, without being awkward about it. And, you also don’t want to come off as too eager as this can sometimes come off as desperate.
They need to know you want the job because if they feel you are disinterested or just going through the motions, they won’t want to extend an offer to you.
As you are going through this closing process, do not drag on forever. This is generally the last thing you’ll say to them. Sometimes, it is prompted, where they will say “Do you have anything else for us?” or something like that. That’s your cue to close. But, if they don’t really give you the opportunity, don’t leave without closing! This entire closing really shouldn’t take more than 15-30 seconds. So even if you have to do it while shaking hands and walking towards the door, you can get it out. It shouldn’t be long, you’re just making clear to them that you want it.
We all have a natural hesitation to close. It’s something sales people do, but for most people it’s awkward. But just like so many times you forced yourself through tough situations in the military, now is the time to do what you need to do, and close. There’s nothing worse than crushing an interview from the opening, the questions, to the great conversation, and then derail it at the end by not closing. It’s 15-30 seconds, smile, push through, and boom, you’re out the door.
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Read More: The Interview Part 7: What types of questions should you ask that will make you unforgettable?
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