Saying Goodbye! Just To Meet Again

Saying goodbye is the final phase of the interview. The signals can be obvious, as when the interviewer rises and says, "Well, thank you for coming in today." or they can be more subtle, as when the interviewer begins straightening up papers on the desk, putting your resume and letter back into a file folder, or glancing at a watch or clock. Other indications that the meeting is coming to a close include longer pauses between questions and the interviewer’s glancing toward the door. Be perceptive. Some interviewers may not know how to close the meeting, or this may even be a final test. If the interviewer just sits there silently, almost as though meditating, take the initiative and test to see whether it's time to start saying goodbye.

Say something like this: “Well, George, I certainly appreciate the time you’ve taken to discuss this position with me. It sounds interesting, and I’m sure we'd both like to give it more thought over the next few days. Is there anything else we need to cover?"

This gets both of you over a potentially rough spot in the conversation and leaves the interviewer with the opportunity to either explore other points or help you close the meeting. When you both appear to agree that it's time for you to leave, you will need to know what comes next.



Unless things have gone unusually well, you are unlikely to find yourself negotiating terms by the end of this first meeting. For one thing, few interviewers have or would choose to exercise the sole power to make a hiring decision. If you are offered the job on the spot, you may not want to be too hasty about accepting it anyway. In a half-hour interview, some questions must have been left unanswered, including why the interviewer is that anxious to fill the job. No, regardless of how much you may feel you need the job, give yourself a few days to think about it. You'll be glad you did.

Instead, use this closure time to find out how you did, whether you are still in the running, and how to follow up. Here are some possible scenarios:

1. If you feel the meeting went well, say so, but with relaxed enthusiasm: ''I know we both have some questions and other considerations well need to explore, but it would seem that we're pretty close in what we're looking for. Would you like me to call you in a few days to see what our next step might be?"
   
   
2. If you're not certain how the meeting went, if you think the employer has doubts about your candidacy, or if you have doubts about the position, you might try a slightly different tack, saying simply, "What do you feel our next step should be?"
   
   
3. If you aren't interested in the position or feel it's not a good match, you can say that also: "I appreciate your inviting me in today, George, but I'm sure we agree that my background wouldn't be a good match for this particular opening. But I do appreciate the time you've given me. It was very thoughtful of you."
   

Remember that your voice tones and body language are significant here as well. Remain cordial. Keep the door open for dialogues in the future. A few years back, a candidate who found it necessary to use the not-interested close was called many months later by the same individual. The latter had been impressed by the candidate's sincerity and maturity. Because the job seeker had a specialized background, it was reasonable that she might continue to look for a good match. That possibility led the interviewer to recommend the candidate for a position that opened up in another area of the division. The candidate, as it happened, was pleased to interview for the position, which she ultimately accepted.

Regardless of how the meeting closes, you will want to follow up, so be sure to keep that opportunity open. If nothing else moves you to close in a friendly manner and follow through accordingly, keep in mind that it's a small world. Make a special point of saying goodbye and thank you to the secretary as you leave.