Closing the Interview

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First there was the application, then the phone interview,

then the in-person interview.

You've finally finished answering all of the questions that the interviewer had

for you.

Now it's time to close the interview, close the sale.

That's what you'll learn about in this lesson.

As the conversation comes to a close,

you will want to be sure to do a few things before ending the interview.

Let's look at them.

First, you'll want to ask if there's anything else you can provide.

It's possible you'll need to provide additional documents,

things like references, transcripts, or writing samples.

Be sure to ask your interviewer if they need these items.

You could even say something like the following,

I believe I'm the right candidate for the job.

Is there any other information I can provide that will help you decide?

Next you'll want to reiterate your interest in the position.

You want to let the interviewer know you're very interested in the position and

that you bring added value to the organization

that other candidates might not be able to.

An example of this would be, from what I know about the position in your

organization, I think I have the right mix of experience and

education and would love to be part of this team.

My specific experience in financial services

will allow me to ramp up projects quickly and begin delivering results.

Lastly, you'll want to ask about the next step in the process.

You should ask what the next steps in the hiring process are.

You're on a timeline as well, and

you need to know what the organization's process for hiring looks like.

Is it one week, two weeks?

This is a standard question to ask, but an important one.

Depending on how soon they need someone, this could affect your timeline for

leaving the organization you're currently with.

We'll now turn to another issue that can come up

when the interview is coming to a close, employer concerns.

To help us talk through some concerns an employer might have,

John is joining us today.

Thanks again, John.

>> Always a pleasure.

>> So what exactly are employer concerns?

>> Employer concerns are basically any possible

issue the employer might have about your candidacy.

Could be your work experience, your skill set,

or your ability to work with the team.

It could be any concern really the employer has about hiring you.

>> Can you walk us through some examples?

>> I'd love to.

First, an employer might have a concern about your fit in the organization.

They'll say something like, we really like you, but I'm just not sure where you fit.

What this means is, they're not sure how well you'll mesh with the employees or

the mission of the organization.

And this is where you need to reiterate your passion for the work and

your ability to work with many different personality types and work backgrounds.

>> It's possible the interviewer is fishing to find out if you think you

are a good fit.

>> Yep, that's another thought.

>> What's next, John?

>> An employer might give you a classic concern.

I'm concerned you have too much experience for this position.

This is usually a concealed concern.

The employer is actually worried about your age, motivation, or attitude.

The strategy is to convince the interviewer that your experience level

is a positive for the team.

You'll want to add that you still have a lot to learn

to demonstrate that you're not a know-it-all and

have a lot to gain from working with less experienced team members.

>> That doesn't seem to be a concern that United Health

would have about you, though.

>> No, someone in my position might hear a concern that is

the opposite of the previous one.

I'm just not sure you have the experience for this position.

And this is usually a concern about your lack of experience for

that specific position.

Perhaps you're trying to move up in seniority but lack management experience.

Or you want to try a different sector, but your work background is unrelated.

And these are all experience concerns that an employer can have.

Your strategy is to give examples of experience from your whole career

that can relate back to the position you're trying to get.

This can even be volunteer experience.

You'll want to demonstrate that you have the passion and

drive to produce the results the organization needs.

You show that you'll draw on the breadth and

depth of your experience to get the job done.

>> So there you have it, some great advice for handling

the delicate issue of employer concerns and properly closing an interview.

Thanks again, John.

>> My pleasure, Daniella.

But I want to make one last point.

The interviewer may not raise any of these concerns.

Some interviewers will leave you with the non-committal,

we'll be in touch, also known as the brush off.

So sometimes you have to prompt the interviewer to give voice to his or

her concerns.

>> How so?

>> I'll ask the interviewer straight out whether they have

any concerns about my ability to contribute to the organization.

>> That's a great question to ask.

Here you're being very straightforward with the interviewer.

You're trying to understand what concerns they might have.

>> Yep, and I'm also trying to get an honest opinion from a third party, right?

So often we're caught up in making our resume just right or

preparing the perfect story for an interview.

But having that input from an interviewer is really valuable information,

even if you don't get the job.

>> Great advice, John.

In closing, I'd like to share with you all one last tip.

Kate Wendleton, founder and President of the Five O'Clock Club,

a national job networking organization in the US, has her career counselors ask

a series of questions of every candidate when they return from an interview.

These are great questions to ask yourself to reflect on an interview.

You'll find the questions in the reading attached to this lesson.

I encourage you to use them.

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