CLOSING THE DEAL
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS If you are no longer interested in taking part in the interview process, be sure to remain professional! Contact the person you scheduled the interview with and politely state you are no longer interested and would like to cancel. Do this with at least a 24-hour notice before the time of your interview. It is considered very disrespectful and unprofessional to simply not show up for a scheduled interview. You risk damaging your reputation, the reputation of those who helped you get the interview, Central Michigan University, and potentially many others!
It is strongly recommended that you only interview if you have a legitimate interest in the position. It is not fair to the employer and takes away from the other candidates’ potential in moving forward if you take part in an interview simply for fun or practice. To schedule a practice interview, utilize CMU’ s Mock Interview program or set up an account on cmich. biginterview. com.
Be sure to diversify your job search. It is not in your best interest to turn down interviews based on the assumption that you will get an offer from another company.
For professional advice on your unique situation, schedule an appointment with a career coach. You may also consult the career-related resources and information available at careers. cmich. edu.
CLOSING THE INTERVIEW It is important to sell yourself at the beginning( see page 37) and end of your interview. Ending the interview on a positive note can be done by incorporating the following:
Summarize your key points: relevant experience, distinctions, your passion for the position, and how you see a future with that employer Respond to information revealed by the hiring team, especially if it intrigues you and fits your skills / experience Ask appropriate, specific questions regarding the employer or position that haven’ t already been answered by the job description or hiring team( see page 36) Leave out salary / benefits questions until the employer initiates the discussion or presents you an offer
The above points may naturally weave into your responses. Even if they do( and especially if they don’ t!), make sure to mention them as you close the interview.
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Sign up for a practice interview through Handshake.