The best way to end your job interview

You’ve had what you think has been a great interview, and now it’s time to close the deal. What is the best way to end the interview? And even after you’ve summed up why you’re the right person for the job, should you still send a follow-up thank you?

It’s an important question, according to Cheryl Hyatt, a partner in executive search firm Hyatt-Fennell.

The following tips can help prepare job seekers to wrap up interviews in a way that will leave a positive impression:

Offer a short recap. You not only do your interviewers a favor by recapping the most salient points, but also do yourself a favor by leaving them with a clear case why you are the best fit for this position,” Hyatt explains.

Ask about the next steps in the process. This is a proactive way to end the interview and reiterates your interest in the position, according to Hardy Desai, founder and CEO of the digital marketing agency Supple. “If you don’t already have their direct contact information, ask for a business card or phone number and email address so you can follow up after that timeline lapses.”

Send a followup thank-you. “A candidate should always write a thankyou note following the interview,” Hyatt says. “A handwritten note is always a nice touch, but only if time is on your side. If you sense that a decision is imminent, definitely send your note via email within 24 to 36 hours of your interview.”

“A quick follow-up and thank-you call or email goes a long way, especially when recruiters are wavering between a few viable candidate choices,” Desai concludes. “It certainly won’t harm your chances, but it could help them!”