When you go for an interview, remember that it's a sales presentation where you're selling your skills, knowledge, experience, and energy. To ensure that you have a successful interview, it's essential to cover the key talking points that you wrote down during your preparations. However, closing the sale is equally important, and you don't want to miss the opportunity to secure the job. Here are some tips for closing the sale during an interview:

Get a Commitment

For a screening interview, you want to get a commitment from the interviewer as to what action will take place next and when. If the interviewer does not provide details about whom will contact you and when, you should ask before leaving the interview. This will help you prepare for the next steps and give you an idea of when to expect a response.

Express Your Interest

If you have a strong interest in the employer and the opportunities presented, make this clear in your closing remarks. Tell them you want the job. This will show that you are passionate about the position and that you are genuinely interested in working with them.

Request a Business Card

You should request a business card as the conversation is wrapping up and ask if you can call or e-mail the interviewer with any additional questions or follow-up on the status of your application. This will provide you with their contact information and help you follow up after the interview.

Take Notes

Take time during your departure to sit down in the lobby, collect your thoughts, and make detailed notes of your conversation(s). Your recollection of the discussions and the information covered is freshest at that moment, and you will forget a significant percentage of the conversation within 30 minutes. This will help you remember the critical points discussed during the interview.

Send a Thank-You Note

The business cards you secure during each interview will provide you with the correct spelling of the interviewer's name, title, and mailing address. Send a thank-you note or business letter to them that evening before you go to bed. Thank them for their time and make sure that you reference something during the interview that excited you or presented an opportunity for their organization for which you would like to be a part. A thank-you via e-mail is now commonly accepted, particularly considering the travel schedules of many key decision-makers. That short business letter thanking them may well separate you from your competition.

By following these tips, you'll be able to close the sale during your interview successfully. Remember that the interview is an opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and energy, and by following these tips, you'll stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting the job.