The closing of an interview can determine the company’s final impression of you. Having a plan helps you stay calm and gather any additional information needed. The Recruiting department at Reynolds and Reynolds can give suggestions for how to handle the interview process, but it’s up to you to impress the hiring manager. It may seem intimidating, but following these six steps may help:

1. Show Your Worth

Begin closing the interview with a short summary. The goal is to review specific reasons why you would be a great fit for the position. Hit on major points, but don’t take more than 10 or 15 seconds of the interviewer’s time. Taking too long may cause the interviewer to lose interest.

2. Support Your Summary

When you have completed the summary step, ask if there is any more information you can provide for your interviewer. By doing this, you are saying, “Here’s why I am the perfect fit as well as evidence supporting my thought process.”

3. Don’t Be Shy

Expressing interest in the job may improve your chances of landing the position. Don’t sound desperate, but reaffirm you would be a good candidate. End with something along the lines of, “Based on what I have seen and heard, I would really enjoy working for you and this company. When will a decision be made?”

4. Get a Timeline

Sitting around waiting for a call isn’t ideal. Before you leave, ask when you might hear back, or what the next steps are in the hiring process.

5. Gather Contact Information

Contact information is useful if you are interested in sending a thank you note or checking on the position’s status. You may want the contact’s name, title, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Typically, all of this information is located on a business card. At Reynolds, you would contact the recruiting department with questions.

6. Say Thank You

On your way out the door, take a moment to thank your interviewer for their time. Let them know you look forward to hearing back and maintain professionalism until you are off the property. You wouldn’t want to make your post-interview phone call and have a piece of the conversation misinterpreted by an employee.

By following these steps, you can have a good idea where you stand in the interview process. Along with that, you have some control over your final impression. The only things left to do are breathe, relax, and wait for your phone call.