Outlining Interview Scenarios You Can Expect: Ending the Interview

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Put the finishing touches on your ShowStopper routine as the interview curtain begins to fall. Find out about the coming attractions of future contacts and prop open the stage door for your return.

Showstoppers

Chris notices the interviewer glancing occasionally at the office clock before saying — Thanks for coming in, I'll notify you when we make a decision.

Chris refuses to fade into the sunset and grabs for a follow-up interview:

I'm sure you have a busy schedule, and I appreciate your time. Thank you. But before we close today, could I make sure I understand what you're looking for?

Chris wraps up with a superb 60-second recap of the job's description and requirements, matching them directly. The theme is "you want, I deliver." After this short monologue, Chris offers the interviewer the floor:

Do you see any gaps between what you need and what I'm offering?

The interviewer mentions one deficiency in Chris's skills profile " a lack of supervisory experience. Chris immediately counters with two stories of managing huge special events for a church organization and a campus club, both of which required supervisory duties. Chris hadn't had paid supervisory experience, but the compensatory answer beat no answer at all.

As Chris and the interviewer shake hands, the interviewer implies that Chris is well-suited for the position, but that there's a pool of candidates yet to be interviewed. Chris asks:

When do you expect to make a decision or to schedule follow-up interviews?

As the interviewer answers and shakes hands, Chris has a final question — Can I get back to you to get an update on your timeline?

Feel free to call me, the interviewer responds, thinking — This candidate has plenty on the ball.

Clunkers and bloopers

Cory tries to stretch the interview with small talk — chiefly personal information not related to the job " while the interviewer is making an obvious effort to leave by gathering papers, rising, and walking toward the door. Cory finally gets the picture and anxiously asks — So, do I get the job?

Cory's desperation adds to the interviewer's doubts. The interviewer decides to end the misery — Sorry, you don't really fit the needs of this job.

Hurt and offended, Cory demands to know why — Hey, I've got the right college degree. What's wrong with me?

Critic's review

To end the interview on the right note, follow these tips:

• Interviewers get the message that a desperate candidate is a bottom-of-the-barrel candidate.
• Learn sales closing techniques; those who don't learn to close a sale don't get job offers. (And make no mistake about it, you're selling yourself in an interview.)
• Watch the interviewer's body language closely for signs that the interview should end. Take the hint. Arguing wastes everyone's time.
• Expecting that an educational or experience credential is all you need to get the job is a mistake.
• Summarize your best-selling points one last time for the interviewer.
• Leave the door open for a follow-up contact.

After the Interview

You get one last chance to make the interview memorable. Your follow-up work is an opportunity to write a happy ending to your job-search scenario.

Showstoppers

After leaving the interviewer's office, Chris immediately writes down everything that happened, including the main points Chris made, the interviewer's name, line of questioning, areas of interest, and the timelines of the hiring process.

Then Chris writes the interviewer a thank-you letter.

Clunkers and bloopers

Cory promptly writes off the interviewing company as unfair and erases from memory all that happened during the interview.

Because Cory hasn't learned from these mistakes, Cory's other interviews won't go much better.

Critic's review

To make the most of every interview, follow these tips:

• Turn every interview into a learning experience.
• Note what you learned in the interview (such as names and additional aspects of the company new to you) for your next contact with the interviewer.
• Note points discussed. Did you leave out significant selling points? Add them to your thank-you letter.