Why Closing Questions Can Swing The Interview For You

The Closing questions which YOU ask at the end of your interview are actually the interview questions that really do matter the most. These final questions you ask the interviewer are the ones that can wrap up the job interview and swing the result your way, maybe even win you a job offer.

The article I wrote (see below) about this job winning technique explains exactly what sort of questions you should be asking at the end of your job interview.

Obviously before you get to that point you will be answering their interview questions fully and well, especially concentrating on an effective self introduction to get your interview off to a great start, otherwise your efforts will be wasted.

It would be great if you hear the interviewer ask you:

“Do you have any closing questions for me?” or more likely: "Do you want to ask me anything?"

Even if they don’t say this, you should say “do you mind if I ask a couple of questions?” but be careful when planning what questions you’re going to ask, and make sure that they are not ones that you should already know the answer to.

In any job interview, you have a relatively short time to create a memorable impression and demonstrate your skills and abilities to the decision-maker. If you've prepared your answers to the interview questions that are most likely to come up, you can be sure it will go well.

Your Interview Questions

Your Interview Questions Are a Serious Matter

By Peter Fisher

Of course interviews are mainly about you answering the questions they put to you, but at the end of your allotted interview time, the questions that really matter most are yours.

What questions should you ask?

"Have you any questions?"

But even if they don't ask, you should grasp the opportunity and say:

"Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions?"

However you must be careful when planning what questions you're going to ask, and make sure that they are not ones that you should already know the answer to because it's been covered in the interview.

Try to make sure that you ask closing questions that are relevant to the job. You could ask things like:

• Is this a new position?
• Who would I be responsible to?
• How many other people do a similar job?
• When did the last person leave this job? (And why?)
• When will I know the result of this interview?
• What opportunities are there for progression or further training?
• Do you have time to show me around the area where I will be working?
• Is there anything else that I can tell you about my experience or background?

  And the most important of your closing questions if you can ask it is this one:

• "Did I answer all your questions fully?"

If they do have any reservations, this just might bring them out and let you have another shot at giving a better answer.

You probably also want to know about pay, benefits and holidays too, but now is not the right time to ask -- and it's important not to ask too early. You'll get a chance when they show they're interested in you for the job.

If they covered all the points you were going to ask :

Try paying the interviewer a compliment:

"I think you've covered all the points I was going to ask you about."

"I wanted to know about the department structure and the systems that you use, but you have covered all those areas, thank you."

Show that you have taken an interest in the company:

"I read that you have ten outlets in Yorkshire. Are you intending to expand any more during the next year?"

Try for the opportunity to summarize for one last time why the interviewer should offer you the job. This means that you will leave on an upbeat note with your skills and experience the final things that they remember about you:

"Could I summarize why you should seriously consider me for this position?"

Interview questions are not only your best leads because they let you know what is important to the interviewer, but your closing questions let them know you are interested.

It also means that the interview doesn't just fizzle out but ends positively.

With over 25 years running businesses, and as a Career Coach and Consultant in many sectors, Peter Fisher is well placed to guide job seekers through the steps needed in order to achieve that all important new position. He has personally coached thousands of individuals to career success.

His distillation of these years of experience includes all the essential facts and actions you must complete in order to achieve your own success. He is very clear that you shouldn’t be misled by others into thinking of “acing interviews” or “finessing” your way into a business; the most sustainable and fulfilling roles are gained through understanding your own specific needs and creating your strategy accordingly.

For specific guidance on how you might best prepare for your interview go to http://www.your-career-change.com/interview-preparation.html

To learn more about his dynamic and comprehensive approach to career change, with every page dedicated to helping serious career changers go to http://www.your-career-change.com

Article published on http://EzineArticles.com

After the interview:

• Examine how you thought it went and write yourself some notes.
• Consider your performance and how well you handled the questions they asked.
• Congratulate yourself on the things that went well.
• Review your interview technique.
• Were you too vague / arrogant / unassertive / aggressive?
• Could you improve? And how?
• If you could do the interview again, what would you do differently?
• Did you ask some pertinent closing questions?
• Make notes of what you were asked and your answers; you might be called for a second interview.
• Write a thank-you letter to the interviewer.
• This letter can reinforce the information you gave during the interview and can help to overcome any of the points you feel you may have missed during the interview.
• Always try to get some feedback on your performance.

Use this opportunity to ask closing questions well and you multiply your chances of interview success massively.

Download your interview questions and answers + bonuses £9.99

Go back to the Interview Help section of the site which has been arranged to show you what to do: Before, during, and after your job interview so that you can prepare for each stage.

When you know better what to do, you will feel more confident about going to the interview and you will handle the interview more confidently as a result. This interview help section gives you information and a checklist to get you ready beforehand; you've got some example interview questions, including what to expect in a competency based interview and how to prepare your answers to the most common job interview questions.

The interview help is laid in sections so that you can jump to wherever you need the most interview training and get help quickly.

Return to Interview Techniques from Closing Questions or go back to the home page of Your Career Change.

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