An interview can be a grueling process. You’re nervous, worried and generally no guard the whole time. But you kind of have to be. Throughout the entire interview you’re being judged and gauged about your abilities so the person interviewing you knows if you’re going to be a good fit or not. However, there is a portion of the interview that usually seems to fizzle out and it is a shame since it is a great way to end on a high note. The ending of an interview can be a great way to hammer home who you are, what you can do and why you should be hired.

For those not accustomed to an interview, the usual run down of an interview involves a back and forth between the interviewed and the interviewer. However, many people have this tendency to hold back during an interview and not talk themselves up as much as they should, or the dialogue is very one sided, with the interviewer only asking questions while the person being interviewed sits in the hot seat and just passively answers without really following up or putting themselves forward.

While it can be chalked up to nerves or uncertainty, not putting yourself out there during an interview is a huge missed opportunity. Ask questions. Get involved. Engage the interviewer and demonstrate to him or her that you have some thoughts floating around in all that grey matter between your ears. This is especially true during the closing of an interview.

So many interviews simply end with the interviewer saying something like “well, if there’s nothing else…” Such a waste of a perfect way to have a great send off. You should close an interview with a bang, not a fizzle. However, by the end of an interview, you’re just happy to get out of there.

Combat this tendency by asking questions. Save them for the end of the interview if you need to. Saying anything beyond nothing. Ending an interview with a two way dialogue not only makes you look engaged and involved but it can serve the useful purpose of clarifying elements of the job you’re interviewing for. How many interviews have you walked away from, not exactly knowing what you’ll be doing but jut shrugging your shoulders and guessing you’ll figure it out? Quite often probably. Close out an interview by not only asking questions but by also reiterating what you can bring to the table in concrete terms. It’s the last impression you get to make so better make it good.

How have you closed an interview previously? Any success or horror stories? Sound off in the comment section and let us know.

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