Interviews: the last question you should ask as you leave

So what is the last, the very last question you should ask the interviewer as you leave the interview?

You've answered all his questions.

You've asked 2 or 3 "employer benefit" questions.

You've thanked the interviewer for his or her time.

Now, as you shake hands and prepare to walk out the door, what is the question you should never forget to ask?

Is it "When will I hear of your decision?"

No.

Is it "May I call you in a few days to see if you have decided who to hire?"

No.

Here it is.

"When do you expect to make your decision?"

The wording is important.

You are not asking when they will notify you, because the answer to that could be that we will only contact the successful candidate.

You are not asking if you can call them because the most likely answer to that is "don't call us, we'll call you."

Instead you are only asking a date: a guideline to when the decision will be made.

On the principal of it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, you are not going to ask if you can call. Instead, armed with the date of their intended decision, you can then call 2 days after that date, if you haven't heard from them, and just ask if they have yet made a decision.

Why does this work?

Well, if they have already decided on time, and you weren't the one they chose, then you are no worse off than if you had tried anything else.

But if they have postponed their decision for any reason, you have now re-introduced yourself as someone with initiative, and someone who is seriously interested in this job. Employers like that.

The answer you get, if it's not that the successful candidate has already been contacted and it wasn't you, will probably just be another date, with perhaps a reason (or excuse) as to why the decision was delayed.

If you don't hear again, and haven't been told not to phone again, wait a bit longer this time. A week after the decision date, might be a good time to call. This time change you line a bit - say something along the lines of you just wanted to let them know that if they have not yet decided, that you are still most interested in the job as .... (here you have to put something in that is complimentary to the company, such as that you have been looking at their website and have noticed ... then mention something appropriate).

After 2 follow up calls you really have just to wait.

But most of the time one is all that's needed, and doing this can put you higher up the list of possible hires.

Try it. It works.

I offer practice sessions, one on one, for interview skills, by phone or my online messenger (audio).

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