THE END OF THE INTERVIEW

By George Zeller

Most of the literature and advice about job interviewing focuses on the beginning and middle of the job interview:

• make a solid first impression
• be able to answer the "tell-me-about-yourself" question
• get as much information about the job as early as possible -talk about your strengths, what you can do for the company and what is unique about you

However, there is an aspect of the interview process that is often neglected, i.e. how to "close" an interview, and many job seekers are unaware of its importance.

What follows are some suggested strategies to follow that may catapult you to a job offer, or at least another round of interviews:

1. Review what has taken place and accentuate the positives, ending the interview on an upbeat note. For example: "It looks like you're looking for an accountant with a good eye for detail who is a good communicator and has worked a lot with Excel. I believe that my experience at Jones Inc. basically parallels this profile. I had to monitor every expense, communicate with vendors on a daily basis and used Excel all of the time."
2. Ask for the job. You do not have to be blunt, "Do I have the job?" However, you could say, "I'm really interested in this job and would love to have the opportunity to work here." At the least, you want to show a high level of interest and leave no doubt that you would accept an offer if it were presented to you.
3. Uncover objections by the interviewer if he/she has any concerns. This is not for the faint of heart. You want interviewers to give you candid feedback so you could have a chance to respond, especially if the interviewer's impressions are misconceptions. For instance, the interviewer may say that you do not have enough/any supervisory experience when in fact you do. You just did not highlight that experience in your resume. In any event, it is good to know what objections you are up against because then you can be more prepared next time or adjust your job search accordingly.
4. Get feedback to see how well you did and where you stand. "How do I compare with the candidates you've interviewed so far?" "What are my chances of being called back for a second interview?" (this question is also a good entry for uncovering objections). Observe the interviewer's body language as well as how the he/she responds to your questions.
5. Minimally, find out what happens next, the timing of the hire and the whole hiring process. "When will you want someone to start in that position?" "Will there be another round of interviews?" "When will you be making a decision?" This is useful information so you could follow up at the right time.

Good job hunters have an end-of-the-interview strategy planned out. They prepare for the end as much as for the start and body of the interview.

George Zeller is a Senior Employment Specialist at Jewish Vocational Service's Career Moves . George has over 20 years' experience in workforce development in the greater Boston area. He is a frequent contributor to the Boston Globe's BostonWorks section. Jewish Vocational Service, a non-sectarian agency has over 65 years' experience helping job-seekers in greater Boston to find jobs and build careers. Career Moves staff work with hundreds of professional job seekers each year and offers top quality job search and career counseling services at an affordable price. To learn more about Career Moves at JVS visit us at www.jvsjobs.org or call 617-451-8147 .