It’s the final word. Make Your Interview Closing Statement Compelling!

Your closing statement - It’s a chance to seal the deal, and hopefully, steal that job offer from the other candidates. It’s time to release the hounds! Show no mercy! Go for the kill, guns blazing! Cliches abound, but you’ve got the idea. Use your arsenal of strengths, those that set you apart and make you uniquely suited for this position, to eloquently make your case irrefutable. Yes, it’ll take forethought and preparation to pull it off, so don’t try to wing it. On the other hand, be on the ball to tweak your closing as necessary to fit the natural flow of the conversation and to show you’ve been listening.  

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Guidelines for a closing statement from industry insiders.

1) Firstly, don’t freak out! At this stage of the interview, many candidates start to crumble under the pressure. Don’t rush to get it over with. You’ll risk giving an entirely forgettable muddled show of grateful sentiments, then regret it later. Remember, last words count and you’re not home yet. Keep it together!

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2) Be clear what you’re aiming to do e.g., paint yourself as the ideal candidate for the job and persuade the employer to hire you while expressing your enthusiasm for the role and company. You’re not trying to present an audio novel, so be succinct.

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3) Make sure your close is tailored to the position, company, style of the interviewer and your personal style.

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4) Provide examples of how your skills, qualifications and work experiences will benefit their company. Clearly, you’re their perfect choice.

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5) Be proactive! Put to bay any apparent niggles in the interviewer’s mind about hiring you. Also, clarify any issues that might have arisen during the interview so you can leave on a positive note.

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6) Show your passion for the role. Describe what you can gain from the job, as well as what their business can gain by hiring you.

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7) Ask questions. It’s not a vacuous request in an attempt to end the interview. They really want to hear some insightful, provocative questions that show you’re familiar with the company’s needs and genuinely seeking the open role. A savvy candidate will try to titillate the interviewer with unexpected, mind-bending, spine-tingling questions of the ilk asking them how they plan to out-sell or out-last their competitors over this potentially devastating Covid period; or how do they nurture and promote team spirit within their company while many employees are working from home etc. Saying you have no questions at this time thanks, is going let you down! Show you’ve done your research, have been listening and are in touch with the current work environment.

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8) Make sure you have something good to say. It doesn’t hurt to be complimentary about the company and reaffirms why you’ve applied for the job. It could be about particular technologies they use that you’re excited about or their co-working spaces etc. Along the same lines, use confident body language that will inspire belief in you, e.g., maintain eye contact, use a firm handshake etc.

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9) Find out the next steps in the hiring process. This will again underscore your sincere interest in the job while also allowing you to feel more comfortable about the process.

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10) Send a note or email thanking the company for the interview opportunity within 24 hours of the interview. Offer to provide any further information. The extra mile for politeness may just set you apart from the pack!

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A cautionary note.

While it might be recommended by some to ask the interviewer if there are any reasons why they don’t want to hire you, it mightn’t end up being a smart move, even if you think you can allay their fears. Why? You will be leaving the interview on a negative vibe, contradicting your aim to sell yourself. The interviewer’s lasting image of you will be in terms of your shortcomings. Why would you shoot yourself in the foot like this? Furthermore, the interviewer is unlikely to tell you on-the-spot. Most will want to reflect on the interview, and you as a candidate, to feel they can make a valid decision. It’s just odd to ask this question, at this point. On the other hand, it’s an acceptable, albeit ballsy, move to ask if they’re ready to offer you the job. At least it shows your self-belief and commitment to seeking the job.

If you’re eagerly awaiting to hear back from your most recent interview, check out this blog on why it may take a little longer than you anticipated!