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How To Close a Job Interview: Closing Statement Examples and Tips

closing job interview

We all know that first impressions count in a lot of life situations, none more so than at your job interview! But do you know how to end an interview on a positive note? Since you are googling this topic, you likely need some extra tips! 

What to Say at the End of an Interview?

Our brain is wired to best remember the things we heard last. That means you need to end the conversation with a recruiter with an impactful interview closing statement. 

Depending on how things went you can focus either on:

  • Your most marketable skills and achievements 
  • Enthusiasm for the company and interest in the next steps 
  • Or your “cultural” fit for the organization 

Here are several examples of what you can say at the end of an interview: 

Polite Interview Closing Statement Example 

“Thank you for talking me through this role and the mission of your company. I believe that my past experience at a National Retail Company, combined with go-to-market planning and operational expansion, make me a good fit for leading offline to online transition for your business. Are there any other details that I can provide to confirm that I’m a good fit for this position?

Enthusiastic Interview Closing Statement Example 

“Thank you once again for inviting me to this interview. I’m a long-time fan of your brand and admire all the pro-bono work you do for the local undocumented immigrant community. Joining your legal team would feel like a double win for me as I could then combine my litigation expertise with community-oriented work. I hope to hear from you soon on the next steps!” 

Confident Interview Closing Statement Example 

“Your description of the company and role made me certain that this is a place I want to work at. I do understand that you are interviewing other applicants too, but is there any other way for me to get a decision from you faster?” 

How To End An Interview: 7 Ways to Frame Your Closing Statement 

We gave you several working interview closing statement examples above. But they are not the only way to make a mark with your parting words. 

 Here’s how to close a job interview in other ways: 

  1. Re-state your interest 
  2. Pose a memorable question 
  3. Demonstrate that you are a cultural fit 
  4. Address interview goofs
  5. Make a bold “if you hire me, then” closing statement 
  6. Resolve possible objections 
  7. Use some flattery 
  8. Send a follow-up email after the interview 

We next demonstrate how to use the above tactics, plus provide several compelling interview closing statement examples.

Or you can watch our video on how to end your job interview successfully first and then read up on other strategies!

1. Express Your Enthusiasm For The Job When Closing The Interview

In most cases, an interviewer will ask you the popular “Why do you want to work here?” interview question throughout your conversation. And that’s when you should properly explain your motivation and enthusiasm.

However, it’s always a good idea to circle back to your motivation when closing your interview. Here are several elegant ways to do so:

  • Restate your desire for the job: But don’t sound desperate, ok? Simply state that after getting more information about the position and the company, you feel even more positive about joining the department for reasons X, Y, Z (summarizing your motivation).
  • Sprinkle in some subtle praise and flattery for the company: You can talk about their positive office culture, how your beliefs align with the company ethos and that you share the same desires that are stated in their mission statement.
  • Explain what drives you to pursue this position: Showcase how your passion for your career niche is driving you to pursue this new job.

Here’s a sample interview closing statement to illustrate the last point a graphic designer might use:

“I’m really into this position as I’m rather hands-on and love seeing how my sketches and prototypes turn into new digital products that bring joy to customers. You’ve also mentioned that this role assumes a lot of user interviews. That’s something I’m not just good at, but also love doing! ” 

2. Learn Which Questions To Ask At The End Of An Interview

Another way to close an interview with class is by asking the interviewer one or two quick questions (even if you don’t have any big ones).

The truth is: most HRs expect you to ask questions at the end of the interview. 

Doing so shows them several things at once:

  • Your genuine interest in the job/company
  • The fact that you did some research too
  • That you are really proactive and engaged

That being said: not every question will win you those extra points. Your questions should be with a twist, allowing you to sneakily reveal some more positive personal qualities.

Here are four best questions to ask at the end of the interview:

1. Did I answer all your questions? 

This question can elicit some early performance feedback from the interviewer and give you extra room to address some issues.

2. What types of soft skills serve the company and the position best? 

The HRs reply can give you a better idea of the managerial culture and the company’s leadership practices. And by asking this question you show that you are a well-rounded professional, who’s equally investing time honing in both hard and soft skills.

3. What are the challenges of this position?

Such an inquiry shows that you have realistic job expectations and are not afraid to get hands-down into the work.

4. How do you help the employees grow professionally? 

This question suggests that you are an avid learner and open to upskilling — a quality most organizations value a lot.

More Good Questions to Ask at The End of An Interview 

If you have some extra time left, post one of the next questions to the employer: 

  1. What do you expect the successful hire to achieve in the first 90/180 days?
  2. How would you describe the ideal candidate for this job? How do I compare?
  3. Why did the last person leave this role? 
  4. What’s the company culture like?
  5. What do you personally like about working in this company? 
  6. Do you require any extra information or clarifications to help you make the decision?
  7. What is your onboarding process like for new employees?
  8. Do some of your most successful employees share the same qualities? 
  9. What are your criteria for evaluating the success of new hires? 
  10.  Where do you see the company in three years? How do you plan to deliver on this vision? 
  11. In what ways does this position contribute to the organization’s overall goals?
  12. Do you have a high turnover rate across the organization?
  13.  What is the company project/product you are most proud of?
  14.  How can I best prepare for integrating into the company?
  15.  How often do you conduct performance reviews? Do you provide feedback regularly? 

How Many Questions To Ask At The End Of An Interview?

This is very situational and depends on how much time you have left and whether your interview went well. Overall, most HRs will gladly answer 2-3 questions at the end of an interview. You can choose to pose some extra ones if the other party does not look pressed on time or attempts to politely wrap up the discussion. 

8 Questions Not to Ask an Interviewer

No questions at the end of the interview may leave HR suspicious. But asking wrong questions at the end of the interview can erase a lot of good things about your performance. 

So never ask the interview these questions:

  1. What is the worst part about working for your company?
  2. Do you ask everyone to do a probation period? 
  3. Are there any fines for employee misconduct? 
  4. Do you always expect me to adhere to the dress code?
  5. When can I take my first vacation after being hired? 
  6. What are the salaries of other people on my team? 
  7. Do you think my future boss is a nice person? 
  8. So what exactly does your company do? 

3. Show That You Are A Strong Cultural Fit

When you think about it, the position that you are applying for is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. You need to demonstrate to your interviewer that you are not only a perfect fit for the role but will seamlessly fit into the company as a whole.

team player with cultural fit

So if the interviewer asks you something like “Do you want to tell us more about yourself?”  at the end of the interview, frame your reply to demonstrate your cultural fit.

Here are several ways to do so:

  • Show that you understand how your future performance will affect the company’s bottom line. You can do so by doing so research on the competition, customers, and core industry trends.
  • Demonstrate that you are a team player and you understand why effective collaboration is key in every company. Provide a quick example of a joint project you’ve worked for.
  • Mention how you like to be managed. Doing so demonstrates to the hiring manager that you know how to self-organize, plus can thrive under the right management approach and take different types of direction.
  • Talk about your hobbies.  If you know that the company plays football every Friday or does some other activities that are in line with your interests (e.g. yoga classes, volunteering, etc), draw the manager’s attention to this fact.

Here’s a catchy interview closing statement example, based on the above tips:

“By the way, I’ve noticed that your company regularly volunteers at Happy Puppy Shelter, I’m an owner of two rescue dogs myself, and donate to HelpDoggo Org monthly. I’d be happy to help with coordinating the volunteering schedule”.  

4. Address Any Sharp Edges You Had During The Job Interview

Let’s face it: not every job interview will be as soft and smooth as melted butter.

No one’s immune to “choking” even on the most common job interview questions. So use your closing statement to do some rapid damage control and address the mishaps.

Firstly, you can be blunt and ask directly if the interviewer has any concerns over your abilities to do this job. Doing so can help you weed out any doubts they may be having and proactively address them in your closing statement. 

For example:

“Indeed, I don’t have as much experience working with CoolCRM software, but I’m rather familiar with similar software X. Plus, I did learn basic HTML all by myself back in high school, so I’m rather confident that I could master this tool, too. Besides, my experience with  software Y is transferable.” 

5. Try a Bold “Hire Me Now” Pitch 

You have a good feeling about the company and really want to work for them. So you are eager to speed things up a bit. 

If you want to play a power move, try one of these interview closing statements. 

Creating urgency

“I was excited about this interview, so thanks for having me. I feel we are both on the same page in regards to the role expectations and performance. Since I also have several other interviews scheduled, I was wondering what currently prevents you from making me an offer? 

Prompting next steps 

“I feel that I answered most of your questions. Going forward, is there anything else you need to know from me? It would be great if you could let me know your timeline for decision-making so that I could better prepare for the next interview stages.”

addressing concerns before leaving the room

6. Address Any Concerns Before Leaving The Room

Did you struggle to answer some questions? Or you might have caught a note of doubt from the interviewer when discussing your qualifications. Don’t let those objections linger.

Instead, frame your interview closing statements to address (and possibly resolve) any objections the interview may have. 

For example: 

“Do you have any reasons why my application will not progress to the next step? I would like to clarify any doubts now that may affect my chances of getting this job”

Or 

“I am aware that there are other suitably qualified candidates interviewing for this role, but I am extremely confident that I am the right choice for the following reasons (state your strengths and suitability for the role again).”

7. Close Your Interview With Some Positivity And Flattery

A bit of flattery can go a long way, especially if it’s not just polite chatter, but fact-based praise you’ve come up with as part of pre-interview company research.

So use that intel to close a job interview on an uplifting note. 

Here are two positive interview closing statements to try: 

“I thank you for your time here today. You have provided me with a very clear outline of this position and I’m particularly thrilled to apply my [domain knowledge] in this role. I am confident that my skills and experience will bring real value to the team and your company as a whole. Can I ask what I should do next to make sure that I get this position?”

“I knew that this job was going to be an excellent position when I learned that your company [does something related to their mission statement]. After my interview today I am even more convinced that I’d like to be part of that movement. Is there something else you need to know that will help further confirm that I am the right applicant for this job?”

8. Send a Follow-Up Email After Interview 

Finally, you can (and should) make a quick come-back after you leave the interviewing room. 

A short follow-up email after an interview once again helps refresh the interviewer’s memory about your performance. In fact, 80% of interviewers say they take post-interview communication into account when making hiring decisions. So use this fact to your advantage! 

The best time to send a thank-you email after an interview is the same day if you interviewed in the morning or the next day if you interviewed closer to the evening. 

Keep your post-interview thank-you email short and sweet. 

“Hi [Name],

Thank you for your time and insights into [Company Name].

I felt like we had a very productive conversation and it left me sizzling with ideas about my first steps in the new role. 

Do let me know if there’s any other information you need at this point.

Regards,
Your Name. 

FAQs About Closing A Job Interview 

Below are some frequently asked questions about closing a job interview, plus our expert answers! 

How Can You End An Interview On A Positive Note?

The best way to end an interview on a positive is to summarize what you can achieve in the said role if the company hires you. Provide a very consolidated statement explaining the value you are bringing to the table — your top skill(s), experiences, and planned scope of action. In this case, the last thing an interviewer will remember is your powerful interview closing statement. That’s a very good thing because we best retain the information we hear last. 

Should I Thank My Interviewer?

Yes, thanking an interviewer for their time is Politeness 101. Drop a short, courtesy statement saying that you’ve enjoyed the conversation and thank them for their time and consideration. But don’t go overboard with this. Bombarding the interviewer with a series of elaborated gratitude statements doesn’t serve as an attesting of your enthusiasm, but rather pinpoints to your insecurities and desperation. 

Do Thank-You Emails Matter After Interview?

Yes, very much so! Sending a quick email thank-you note to the interviewer allows you to remind of yourself and the conversation you had, plus bring up some extra information. For example, circle back to a suggestion you’ve made during an interview, mention an extra detail you forgot earlier, or offer the hiring person to keep the communication going and say connect on LinkedIn. 

Is It A Good Sign When The Interviewer Responds To Thank You  Email?

Usually, it is. At least, a response to a thank-you email means that you are dealing with a tactful and professional hiring team that doesn’t ghost candidates. But a mere response from the interviewer should not be viewed as a guarantee that you’d make it to the next round unless they have explicitly stated so in their reply. 

What Are The Top 5 Questions To Ask An Interviewer?

Here’s our team’s selection:

  1. Did I answer all your questions? Would you like me to comment on anything else? 
  2. Can you tell me more about the team I’d be working with? 
  3. What do you love most about working in this company?
  4. What’s your standard timeline for providing a decision? 
  5. If I am successful, what are the next steps in the interview process? 

Wrap Up

Asking the right questions at the end of the interview can make all the difference between bringing your interview to a positive close or leaving with a shadow of doubt floating in your interviewer’s mind.

So don’t be afraid to drop a lofty closing statement or proactively ask yet another question. Doing so will demonstrate to the employer (yet again) just how motivated you are. The more interest you show in the job and the company, the more interest you will receive in return!

Last update: February 24 2022

Author

  • Elena Prokopets

    Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

2 Comments

  1. I remember leaving the room after the interview and hitting the water cooler, which almost made it fall, the plastic cups were scattered all over the floor. With this awkward movement, I was remembered by my employer. And I didn’t even have to say anything. Lol. Of course, that’s not how I wanted to impress him at all.
    I agree with what your article says. The most important thing is to show interest in the vacancy, to ask questions about responsibilities and the company. So that the employer can see that you want to work not only to get paid but also to develop yourself and the company.

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