At the end of the interview, if you find yourself a good fit for the position, you shouldn’t be afraid of going for it and actively participating in approaches that help you land your dream job. But how do you ask for the job without being and/or sounding pushy? Below are five different approaches that have been used (inspired by this post on Simply Hired’s blog). Let’s see if they are a pro or a con.
Direct Approach
“I would love to work for your company. I know I would be a great fit.”
Notice all the “I’s”? Not exactly a good thing! This should be more of a time to focus on being a “we” person. This approach can make you come across as desperate and pushy. Unless you are interviewing for a high-stake sales position and you are showing them you can “close a sale,” know that to get hired both parties must benefit.
Feedback Approach
“I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did!”
So basically, at the end of the interview you are asking how the heck am I doing here?! Thumbs up or thumbs down?! If they give you a vague answer like “we will be making calls within a week,” you are either straddeling the fence or your are on the side where the fence is definitely not greener.
I have noticed in the past that, when I have been offered a position, they always use the term “moving forward.” This has been used on me for when I was sent to another interview or when they offered me the job.
Next Step Approach
“So where do we go from here?”
Speaking of moving forward…try not to assume. Again, if you get a general answer, I wouldn’t be celebrating just yet. If you are moving ahead in the interviewing process you will probably get a name of the person who is calling you and when they will be. Or you may be told the next date, time, and location of the next round of interviews.
Objections Approach
“Do you have another question or concerns about how well I could do for the company?”
Downfall? It is a closed-ended question. All the interview has to say is “no” and that is the end of that conversation. When digging for details about how you did, always ask a question where they can responded back using seven words or more.
Fit Approach
“How do I fit into your company?”
If the interviewer says they still want to wait and review other candidates, I wouldn’t hold my breath. However, if you have conveyed your attributes positively to that company they they will be able to recall that and match it to core values and items of the company.
What are other, more successful ways to close an interview?
