The tail end of job interviews is an afterthought for many candidates. They ask a couple of generic questions, thank the hiring manager for the opportunity to interview, offer a handshake, and leave. Little do they know, they may have just made a big mistake. During this week’s expert Q&A Steve Mintz tells us how candidates can end job interviews on the strongest note possible.
Q: You say there are two actions that can make or break a candidate at the end of a job interview. What are they?
As a candidate you just spent the better part of an hour talking to me. You have answered my questions and hopefully asked some good, insightful ones yourself. Now comes the moment of truth where your next two actions can be the difference between setting yourself apart and getting the job, or walking away without an offer.
As the candidate you need to ask a final question — “Is there anything we have discussed today that you need more background on?” Once you have tied up the loose ends, be sure to summarize your skills and qualifications, and ask for the job. This is where a 10 second elevator speech comes in handy. So the good candidate my say something like “My prior record of success in product development, plus my consumer research and strategic thinking skills, coupled with my 10 years experience in this area will be of benefit to Acme Incorporated and its product management team. I have really enjoyed speaking with you today, especially our discussion about X. I love the culture and attitude here and I think it would be a good fit for me. I want the position as the Senior Product Manager. When do you think I can start?”
Q: Why are these two actions so crucial?
For one, the questions give you one last chance to provide additional background that your interviewer may have forgotten to cover. And believe me, just as you may walk away from the interview kicking yourself because you forgot to mention something awesome about your background or you failed to position something a certain way, it is likely your interviewer may have forgotten to ask an important question. It also gives you the chance to better explain something that the interviewer did not understand. And if the interviewer is truly honest with you about an area of doubt they have about your candidacy, it gives you one last chance to turn a doubt they may have about you into a positive or at the least, a neutral opinion.
As for the summary and ask, it will leave a good positive impression. You have to market yourself. Like any good marketer, you have to position your brand in the mind of your target market. Hopefully you did this well in the interview. But leaving an interviewer with the key points on why you should be hired makes it easy for them and helps to leave that good impression. And asking for the job shows you are interested. And believe me, no matter how good your competition for the position happens to be, very few will ask for the job outright. This will be guaranteed to ensure you stand out, especially in an initial interview so you get to the second or third interview. Everyone likes a go-getter.
Q: It seems to me that phrasing can be very important. How do you ask for the job in a way that comes off as neither desperate nor pushy?
As long as you have been engaged in the interview and used good body language (leaned forward, maintained eye contact, kept your shoulders down), I don’t think you can come off in a bad way. Did you ask insightful questions? Did you ask questions based on some deep research? Don’t say “I really need” or “really want”, which reeks of desperation or can be more pushy. Just be open and up-front. Try to be humble in the interview too. It should not be all me or I, but throw in a few “we” to show you are humble, a team-player, and willing to share credit. And be sure you want the job before taking on a strong close. If you don’t want it then the ask will not be sincere and it can show. If you do that then your asking for the job at the end will not come off as being pushy. In fact, it will be seen as a sign you really want it and are proactive in asking for what you want.
Q: Say a candidate botched the end of her interview. Is there anything she can do afterward to save her chances?
She should be sure to hand-write a thank you on some professional stationary. Again, a hand-written note helps you stand out as nobody writes them anymore. Send it out the same day if possible. In the note, regardless of whether you fail or succeed, use the same summary line you used (or should have used) in the interview. And again ask for the job. You can try to use the thank you note to clarify a position or description you may have botched. But you must use caution. If the interviewer did not query any deeper on the topic, it is possible that what you perceived as a botch did not come off that way to the interviewer. So you may not want to draw attention to it later.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say about this topic?
Perhaps with the exception of the opening of the interview (your smile, intensity and energy, how well you shake hands and make eye-contact and give that first impression), closing the interview strongly is most important. Do it well and you significantly raise the chances that you will get the job or be called back for a second interview.
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About the Author
Steve Mintz is an experienced CRM strategist, direct marketer, and experienced job interviewer (as a hiring manager and a job candidate with a good track record of getting the offer). In addition to bringing in billions of dollars of revenue during his career and retaining millions of customers, Steve has hired and retained dozens of employees. You can follow Steve on Twitter @CLMPrescript, where he posts mostly about leadership, digital and direct marketing, and occasionally hiring tips. Or see him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/stevemintzinmiddletonwi/
