When the interviewer says, ‘Do you have any questions for us?’… do you know what to say? If you’re not sure how to go about closing an interview well, take 5 minutes to read this article.
It could be a game changer.
Closing an interview well can dramatically improve the impression a candidate makes. Do you leave them thinking you are a capable and confident professional? Or do you mumble your way out of the door?
Either way, this article will give you the tools to create a lasting impression. We’ll look at some insightful questions to ask and explain the structure of a good closing summary.
Didn’t know you needed a closing summary? Read on…
Why closing an interview well matters
You might think that the most important part of the interview is answering the questions your interviewers pose. Of course this is important, but that isn’t your only opportunity to impress.
The way you close your interview says a lot about you, your confidence, and your interest in the role. Remember, there might be several candidates, and you need to stand out. Leaving a good lasting impression on your interviewers is essential.
The two main ways I would suggest you do this are to ask great questions, and to prepare a strong closing summary.
Questions to ask your interviewer
When your interviewers inevitably ask, ‘Do you have any questions for us?’, make sure you have something interesting to say.
Asking insightful questions lets you:
- Show your interest in this role.
- Demonstrate you have researched the company.
- Explain your career aspirations and ambition.
So, now you know you should be asking questions. Which questions?!
Questions about the job
If you aren’t sure about any aspects of the role, now is your chance to clarify.
Remember, the interview process works two-ways. You also need to leave with enough information to decide whether you would want to work there.
So, if you have questions about the job or the organisation, ask them.
Examples:
- I noticed that the job description mentions X, Y, and Z. Which is the primary focus of the role?
- What are the three main challenges facing this role at the moment?
Questions about the company
You can also use this opportunity to show off some of the research you have done into the company. If you’re not sure what to research, have a look at my article about interview preparation here.
Ask questions linked to their strategy, vision, and/or goals, but show off your knowledge at the same time.
Examples:
- I know that your strategic goals are X, Y, and Z. What are the current priorities for this role to support progression towards these goals?
- Does this role have specific targets in relation to X goals? What do these look like?
Questions about career progression
Asking questions about development potential demonstrates your ambition and commitment to personal growth.
Consider how you would like to progress in this role, company, and industry. You can ask questions to establish how this company would support you in those goals.
Examples:
- What does success look like in this role?
- Which roles have previous postholders moved on to?
- How would the company support my development once I am established in this role?
Questions about work-life balance
You might also have questions about the balance between your worklife and homelife in this role. You can establish this, whilst continuing to demonstrate your commitment to the role.
Examples:
- Are there peaks and troughs in the workload throughout the year?
- What would happen during a typical week in this role?
These are just a few examples of the types of questions you could ask your interviewer. The questions you choose will depend on what you already know and what you need to find out. Make sure you ask enough to decide if this is the job for you.
What NOT to ask in interviews
This wouldn’t be a helpful guide on closing an interview well without mentioning what NOT to ask. Here goes:
- DON’T ask questions you could easily find the answer for yourself.
If a quick google, or a look at the company website would tell you the answer to the question, don’t ask it. Similarly, don’t ask questions that have already been answered during the interview. This just shows a lack of effort and imagination!
- DON’T ask all the questions.
Pick 2 or 3 to cover the main points. You don’t want to shift the balance of the interview so much that you end up interviewing them! If you make them run late for the next candidate, this could negatively impact the impression they have of you.
- DON’T ask about the minutiae of the terms and conditions.
Questions about how many days annual leave you get, or the rate of sick pay can wait. These details are better discussed alongside an employment offer. Stick to the bigger picture for now.
How to prepare a strong closing summary
Aside from asking good questions, the best way to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer(s) is to prepare a closing summary.
This should be brief, ideally around 30-60 seconds.
Use that time to:
- Reiterate why you are an ideal candidate for the role
- Explain why you want to work there
- Highlight your key strengths, in relation to the job description
- Demonstrate your passion for the role
Top tip: prepare this in advance and practice it out loud! Make sure it sounds natural but covers the main points.
Closing an interview well
Leaving a good impression on your interviewers doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does require a little preparation.
Consider your questions in advance so that they are interesting and insightful. Have backups in case you find that your questions are answered during the conversation.
Plan your closing summary and practice it in advance. You want to sound confident and deliver it concisely.
Remember that help is available. If you would like some professional support with closing an interview well, I offer one-to-one coaching sessions. Find out more here.