It’s the End of the Interview and You Want the Job – So Ask for It!

So you’ve given a killer interview, but how you wrap things up is as important as how you performed during the interview itself. As vital as your first impression, your last impression is a lasting one. Often candidates are so relieved that the interview is over they neglect to pay attention to this part of the process.

One of the most impactful ways to close an interview is simply to ask for the job. Hiring managers like it when a candidate does this – it shows genuine interest in the opportunity and shows you are invested in earning it. Our experience shows us that, while acknowledging gender differences can be fraught with the danger of over-generalising, women tend to be less comfortable with directly asking for the job. So, even if your personal style is more humble, in a job interview it is more than okay to project confidence, even if you have internal concerns about areas where you still need to grow.

If you do feel uncomfortable, remind yourself that you are bringing your valuable skills and experience to the role, and deserve to be hired.

Here are some clear and powerful ways to do ask for the job:

“I’m very interested in the position and the company, and I am confident that I’d be a great fit. I’d love to join your team to help you reach your goals.”

“The position sounds wonderful, and I’m excited about what the company is doing. I’d love to be seriously considered for this position.”

“Do you have any questions about my ability to do the job? Is there anything else I can tell you about my background to help convince you to hire me?” 

“Do you have a sense yet of when you’ll be making a final decision? I’d love to work with you and your team. Where do we go from here?”

“I was already excited about this opportunity before the interview, and now that we’ve spoken, I feel even more certain that I’d be the right fit for your team. Is there anything else I can tell you about my background or skills to help you make your decision?”

Other ways to make sure your interview ends on a high note:

If the interviewer asks if you have any questions, take this opportunity to blow his/her mind with some savvy questions, like:

Why is this position open?

Are there any other aspects of the business that I’ll be asked to get involved in?

What would I be doing on a typical day?

What are the most challenging aspects of the job?

How would you describe the company culture?

How will my performance be measured?

Confront any issues: “Do you have any concerns about my ability to fulfil the role?”

Ask if they would like any more information.

End on a polite and professional note, thanking everybody for their time and shaking everyone’s hands. Follow up with a thank you email.

 Best of luck with your interview, and remember to reach out to us if we can help in any way, even if it is just to chat through your options.

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 With more than 60 years’ combined experience in the recruitment industry, The Talent Experts is a specialist permanent recruitment consultancy working across industry; with a focus on finding elusive, scarce-skill business talent in complex and niche sectors.

We aim to create quality relationships between ourselves, our clients, and ultimately between long-term employee and employer partners. In doing so our goal is to help people achieve their ambitions, help businesses flourish, and improve the world we live in through positive and passionate connections.

Your success is our business. We will always ensure our service to you is at the highest standard. www.thetalentexperts.co.za