Interviewing is a selling opportunity. It's a relatively short time frame and you're in the spotlight. Even in so-called casual interviews, you're watched and evaluated very closely. You're compared to others and graded. Everything you do, everything you wear, and everything you say is magnified, and either helps or hurts you.

You can sell yourself into a job and receive an offer by using "closing comments." Closing comments are thoughts you drop into the conversation to "close the sale." Closing comments screen you into the position as opposed to screening you out. They say, in effect, "You should hire me. I belong here."

Interviewers want to know at least three things: 1) Can you do the job? (Do you have the technical skills and experience?) 2) Will you do the job? (Are you motivated to perform?) and 3) How do you fit into the corporate culture? (Is the personal chemistry good?) To be successful, you need to win in all three areas. Let's discuss them separately.

Can you do the job? The company wants to know if you have the required technical skills and experience. They also want to know if you can take the ball and run with it. You want to show sureness (self confidence) rather than unsureness (lack of confidence). Don't lie, but don't be unnecessarily modest. You want to communicate "I can handle this with no sweat," not, "I could do it if you'd hold my hand every step of the way." Here are some good closing comments:

• "The job fits me."
• "This would be easy."
• "I've done this before."
• "I wouldn't have any trouble with that."
• "We did a very similar project during my residency."
• "I could make a big contribution in a hurry."
• "No problem. That's exactly what we did at Columbia/HCA."

• "I could really see myself fitting in here."
• "I think we'd work well together."
• "I'd like the job."
• "I'd like to take a shot at it."
• "I'd love to take charge of this."
• "I'd love to give it a try."
• "I'd like to get started on it."
• "It would be fun to get started."

• "I like you people."
• "I like what you're doing."
• "I like the direction you're taking."
• "I like your management philosophy."
• "I like what I've seen so far."
• "From my perspective, it feels like a great fit."
• "I like the way you manage people . . . and I'd like to work for you."

Examples
Simple Closing Comments for Pharmaceutical Position (Surgical Oncologist)
Simple Closing Comments for a Cardiologist