For some hiring managers, figuring out how to end an interview can be tricky. As someone who has just invested time and energy into trying to determine if the candidate you’re talking to may be right for the open role, you don’t want the interview to end on the wrong note. For that matter, neither does the person being interviewed.

As the job interview winds down, knowing what steps to take as an interviewer to indicate that the conversation is approaching the endpoint can help you bring the job interview to a graceful close for all parties. Keep these tips in mind when it comes time to end the interview.

Let the candidate ask questions

Before closing an interview, an important step is to provide an opportunity for job candidate ask questions. This gives interviewees a chance to bring up topics they weren’t clear on or raise issues that weren’t touched on earlier in the interview.

Let the candidate know what comes next 

Advise the candidate how and when you’re going to be in contact and whether any further steps need to be taken — forms, tests and so on. In addition to being a common courtesy, this interview closing practice creates a positive impression. It can also help put candidates at ease if they don’t hear back early on during what can sometimes become an unpleasant waiting game.

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Signal that the interview is ending

Thank the candidate for their time and repeat your commitment to follow up. Either stand or shake hands again, or both. This action is a way of formally closing the interview and provides a signal for the candidate to leave. Walk the applicant out of the office to the elevator lobby or front door.

In remote interviews, look at the camera on the computer while talking, especially toward the end. To signal that the interview is about to close, a shift in posture or tone of voice, or a pause in speech, can help send the right message, along with a wave or some other visual cue that the time is right to leave the call.

By closing the interview in a way that feels smooth rather than awkward, you can feel better about your chances of landing the candidate you want, and the candidate can walk away from the process knowing what to expect next.

After closing the interview, take notes

Knowing how to close an interview includes knowing what to do once the face-to-face discussion ends. As soon as possible after the candidate’s departure, take some time to collect your thoughts and summarize your impressions in notes. You don’t need to make any definitive decisions at this point, but recording your impressions immediately after the interview ends — while they’re still fresh in your mind — will help you immeasurably if the final choice boils down to several candidates of comparable qualifications.

Learning effective methods about how to close an interview is best perfected through practice. As you meet with more job candidates, the simple tips listed above will make closing the interviews much easier and give the candidates a good idea of what to expect going forward. With practice, every business owner can conduct outstanding interviews — and end them on a positive note at just the right time.

Learn more about the art of interviewing in the posts below, and contact Robert Half for help with finding top talent.

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