Candidates preparing for job interviews often focus heavily on interview questions and responses to ensure they are accurately detailing their experience, skills and knowledge. You may be forgetting the most important aspect of the experience if you are not preparing to leave a lasting impression. Close out the interview on an up note to show the potential employer that you have what it takes to make a positive impact on the company as a whole.
"Closing" is a common term used in sales to ensure that the customer buys the products or services, but this term is useful during a job interview as well. You want to avoid losing the sale after putting in the time and effort to display your professionalism. An interview is similar to the sales process. Your goal is to sell your skills, personality traits, experience and knowledge base to the hiring manager. Avoid leaving a potential employer's office feeling uncertain; gain confidence with a solid closing strategy.
A crucial element of the closing process of a job interview is to seek out details about the next step in the hiring process. Show the hiring manager that you are eager to get started and that you are confident in your abilities to boost the company's productivity and profits. Provide a brief recap of how you have the skills to work well with the team, the desire to mesh with the company culture and the knowledge to make an impact right away.
Close the job interview with interview questions such as "Can you see me being successful in this role?" to gauge the potential employer's interest in you as an employee. Candidates should also ask questions such as "Can we move me forward to the next step?" when exiting the interview to prompt the hiring manager to provide an indication of the hiring decision.
Candidates who are confident and personable during a job interview are more likely to make a good impression. Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer that detail your efforts to research the company, gain knowledge of the products and services of the business, and seek out a solid match for your future. Hiring managers are often seeking potential employees who know what they want and are determining if the job is a good fit for their career tracks as well.
Aggressive tactics during the close can be off-putting to potential employers, which is why it is important to show confidence in an assertive manner without making demands of the hiring manager. Close out the interview by thanking the employer for taking the time to review and investigate your skills, and remain professional even if the interviewer seems uninterested during the job interview.
Photo Courtesy of Voguemarle2010 at Flickr.com
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